Babies with NICU hotel accommodations?

[preemiepoweredRN]

Inquiry/Rant-

Just wondering if this happens in other NICUs. I'm currently in a unit where babies tend to linger around waiting in stable condition for basic procedures ( ie G-tubes) that could potentially get them home sooner (that is the goal, right?) It appears that families that come often to visit are able to advocate for the baby and potentially move things along quicker (pending no complications, of course) but often times this is not the case because of childcare/transportation/back to work demands of the family. I know from my days on first shift, that the bedside nurse can be the biggest advocate for the baby. I work off-shifts now, so I rely on the report/MD notes to understand the plan of care. Many times during report the day shift nurse who communicates with the primary doctor has no idea about the plan of care and generally the night shift doctor has no clear idea- so the babies wait. I feel this is a growing trend, as when I first started in NICU 10 years ago this issue wasn't so prevalent-or at least it didn't appear to be.

What happened to reducing the length of hospital stays? Or is it acceptable to now just let the babies take up accommodations/potentially acquire a new diagnosis in the process?

[amoLucia]

Where are your bed utilization staff? Do they still have them in hospitals?

With the 'get 'em in, get 'em out' trends, I would think they'd see the problem too.

[babyNP., APRN]

Having a gtube is decreasing nationally on babies that have the capability to eat (i.e. doesn't have a neuromuscular disorder etc) in order to let the baby have more time to learn to eat. Many units will send these babies home on ng tube feedings with good success but other units don't feel as comfortable- the areas socioeconomic status of the population has a bit to do with it.

Also- you can't make a surgeon cut. There are often delays in routine non urgent surgeries simply because there are so many cases happening and not enough surgeons and OR staff. Everyone thinks their case should take priority, but the line is drawn somewhere.