Anyone ever adopt from their NICU?

MassED, BSN, RN · May 5, 2009

Hey guys, I'm just curious if you (or anyone you know) has adopted a baby from the NICU you work in. I plan to adopt children in the future and now that I work in the NICU, was wondering if that is a route that is even possible. If it is a possible route, how do you go about it, who do you talk to? Social worker? Thanks in advance for any info!

that's an interesting idea - I would imagine you'd have to go through the same hoops that any other adoptee might do, but who knows. Maybe the hospital social worker would know - or lawyer. Post here once you find the answer, that's a great question.

Jolie, BSN · May 5, 2009

I know of a few cases of this happening. One involved a special needs child who was adopted by the NP who oversaw his care in the NICU. She had no plans to adopt until this child came into her life. His stay was very long, which allowed for the proper studies and clearances to be completed.

The other involved a staff nurse who had long been awaiting placement of a child. She came to work one day and was met by the social worker who asked if she would like to take a drug-exposed child home in a few days. Very happily, that was the nurse's last day of work.

MassED, BSN, RN · May 5, 2009

I know of a few cases of this happening. One involved a special needs child who was adopted by the NP who oversaw his care in the NICU. She had no plans to adopt until this child came into her life. His stay was very long, which allowed for the proper studies and clearances to be completed.
The other involved a staff nurse who had long been awaiting placement of a child. She came to work one day and was met by the social worker who asked if she would like to take a drug-exposed child home in a few days. Very happily, that was the nurse's last day of work.

how cool!!!

3yrDiploma · May 6, 2009

we actually have had 2 nurses in our unit adopt. Social worker for the unit helped. 2 of the babies were fostered first then adopted.

SteveNNP, MSN, NP · May 7, 2009

I think prmnrs on the forum adopted a NICU baby.... maybe I'm not remembering correctly...

Sweeper933 · May 7, 2009

I think prmnrs on the forum adopted a NICU baby.... maybe I'm not remembering correctly...

I believe you're right Steve...

I know that a bunch of years ago, one of our docs and his wife adopted a special needs baby from our unit.

hikernurse · May 7, 2009

I haven't, but I do know several nurses who have. It's a win/win situation; these kiddos have long-term health needs and who better than a nurse to care for them :). It's worked out very well for these families.

bubbly · May 21, 2009

There are a lot of babies on my unit who I would like to adopt and bring home. Too bad the parents won't let me because they would rather take them home instead. :chuckle I just wish all the babies go to good homes with lots of love. I know of 2 people I work with who have adopted within the nicu and only 1 baby (lots of special needs) who was up for adoption (but not adopted from anyone in my nicu).

Mimi2RN, ASN, RN · May 21, 2009

Years ago a nurse adopted one baby from our hospital, and a doc adopted another. Since then we've been told, never again. If the situation came up, it would be interesting to see what happens. The last two are late teens, now (and not DEI or special needs kids).

There are some babies in our NICU who should go home with someone else, and a couple have ended up dead. One for sure was murdered. The other one?

greenfiremajick · May 25, 2009

Hey guys, I'm just curious if you (or anyone you know) has adopted a baby from the NICU you work in. I plan to adopt children in the future and now that I work in the NICU, was wondering if that is a route that is even possible. If it is a possible route, how do you go about it, who do you talk to? Social worker? Thanks in advance for any info!

Go ahead and get licensed now. If a newborn is put into foster care, then you will be ready to take them in (should one come along). Then you can contact your foster care worker as well as whichever official/CPS worker has the baby's case. Look up Catholic Social Services, AASK, or enter foster care licensing agency in your search engine. That's where to start. Word of warning though....You will be going through some of the same processes, scrutiny, and training that the "bad parents" go through, the whole time you are a licensed foster home......If i were to do it over again, I probably would have made the choice to adopt a baby from China, or some other country....Of course, I wouldn't want different kids than I have now....Just wish the process had been easier.....

Hope this helps