Volunteer Cuddling

[scrabblern]

Hi,

I work in a 30 bed family centered unit. I am pretty new to NICU but have worked in critical care previously. "My" NICU does not have volunteer cuddlers. We usually have only one or two techs in the unit and they are usually pretty busy. We have had a number of babies whose parents were not able to visit often. When nights are slow RNs will hold pts that are ok for holding but most nights can be pretty busy.

I took it upon myself to start developing a cuddling program. I am doing research, I've presented data to committees and hopefully will soon visit another NICU and maybe get some tips from their program.

So, my question to you is...

Does your unit have volunteer cuddlers? If so, what do they do? Are they allowed to hand swaddle patients in incubators?... or just hold OC babies? Can they hold intubated pts, unstable pts, or only stable pts?

How big is your unit and how many volunteers do you have? What kind of training have you provided for volunteers?

Thanks!

C

[mantlefan]

I am a 57 year old male PE teacher, looking to retire in June of 2011. My plan for retirement is to find a job at a golf course 2 days a week and play 2 days a week. But mostly, in looking for a place to retire from Connecticut, I'm trying to find a hospital that offers a "Cuddler" program. it is in my DNA to hold little babies. I got it from my Dad! I can't think of a better way to spend some time volunteering, than to cuddle those babies, whose parents can't be there with them around the clock.

If you know of a city theat has this program, please let me know. I'm willing to move pretty much anywhere, but this is SOOOOOO much a part of what I want to do that it will direct my move!

Any info can be forwarded to [email protected]. Thanks!!!!!!:):)

[princsheather]

I've been waiting over 2 years for a volunteer cuddling position to open up I had the chance a year ago but my Army training was at the same time so I missed it. Hopefully one of these days a position will open up for me, so I can get my foot in the door. I would LOVE LOVE LOVE LOVE LOVE to work in the NICU.

[pn5437]

this is what ive been wanting to do for a long time. I heard about the cuddling program in tampa fl, but when i went to my local hospital and asked about it, they looked at me funny. The head Volunteer person called someone on the NICU and asked "do you know anything about volunteers holdin' babies??" I went trying to do a good thing but left feeling as if they were suspicious of me. I'm still not sure where in tampa you could do this. I am an LPN and would LOVE to eventually get my RN to be able to work in NICU :redbeathe

[HazelLPN, LPN]

Our volunteers were highly trained and motivated. The only patient care they did was help with PO feeds and could hold patients as long as they didn't have an unstable airway. Many of the volunteers had been parents or grandparents of medical fragile children, and the younger high school/college age volunteers were often interested in medicine or nursing as a career. Most were honor students and were often better than some of our paid employees. We also had several retired LPNs and RNs who no longer had an active license volunteer, although they generallly were more interested in working places like the information desk, gift shop etc than holding babies.

[lovemorehateless]

Do any of y'all know anywhere in the houston area that uses cuddlers, volunteers, or tech's in their nicu's?

I am so passionate about working in the nicu! I graduate in a few months & would love to get in there right now to start soaking up some knowledge. I've called a couple hospitals, 1 said they don't use techs or volunteers & the other said they only use volunteers but that the waiting list was too long to even be put on it!

[dawnebeth]

I don't live in Houston, but most hospitals who have volunteers not only have a waiting list, but generally, there is a training period where you have to volunteer in other parts of the hospital first before going to the ICN. In our hospital, you have to volunteer for over six months and then get special training for the ICN.