Is this appropriate?

[BabyNurse513]

I am a NICU nurse and my primary (ex 24 weeker) is getting ready to go home. The parents asked me if I would like to baby sit one or two days a week until they feel comfortable having him home. He is doing well, had a very smooth course ( never intubated, never septic, feeds well) and not going home on any meds or oxygen. So I guess I am just wondering if this is ok, how liable would I be if God forbid, anything happened?

[bagladyrn, RN]

Does your hospital sponsor any kind of "babysitter's course" in the community or does your local Red Cross? (with CPR, etc.?) If so, this might be a place to refer the parents - show your understanding of their feelings and still keep yourself out of a conflict of interest.

[KRVRN, BSN, RN]

I've seen situations like this. In my experience, it's not so much that the parents don't feel competent caring for their baby, and need further education or referrals. It's moreso that you've been their primary nurse... they know you, they like you, they know you're (probably) not one of those freaky nannies that you hear horror stories about who beats the children, etc. They wouldn't necessarily want to send their ex-preemie to a day car center, and maybe the grandparents aren't around.

A lot of times it's just an innocent offer, not a cry for help. They NEVER realize that it puts you in a tough spot. They don't realize that you could put your license on the line if you don't notice something that a NURSE should notice but a BABYSITTER might not. It's also true that sometimes you have such a good relationship with the parents that you could see yourself being friends with these people outside of work. I see no problem with that (and have done it myself) but babysitting for them in these circumstances isn't a good idea.

[CHATSDALE]

i have never worked in nicu but on adult floors the nurses frequently picked up extra money doing private duty with discharged patients or with hospitalized patients whose family was unable to stay in room and wanted more than a sitter [this was also beneficial to family financially because insurance would reimburse for a licensed nurse and not for a sitter]

maybe it is different with babies...these other nurses may be steering you in the right direction based on their knowledge of the situation

[Gompers, BSN, RN]

I wouldn't do it. I work with a couple of nurses who have babysat for our former NICU babies at times, and I would just never feel comfortable with it. They're not going to be thinking of you as a babysitter - they're going to be thinking of you as a nurse. And you're not legally covered if something should go wrong while you're babysitting.

Now, in NICU we often have some issues with crossing boundaries because we do get so attached to these babies and their families. I don't think there's anything wrong with paying the family a visit after discharge, because I know many nurses (myself included) who've formed friendships with these familes. But to be entrusted with that infant's care...that's a whole other thing to me.

I still can't get over the fact that you had a 24-weeker who was never intubated. Did they even drop a tube to give surfactant in the delivery room? We're having luck with Vapotherm, but not THAT much luck!

[BabyNurse513]

we try every baby that's breathing on bubble cpap. no surfactant unless they require more than 60% oxygen. we have really good outcomes. we have the lowest bpd rate in the country i believe.