New to NICU! NICU terms?

[aec286]

Hi, I attend Northern Arizona University and I am in my second year about to start the nursing program (hopefully). I have been reading a lot on this NICU forum and I am very interesting in going into NICU. I also do not know much about the terminology used. I was wondering if anyone could help me. What is the difference between Level 1, 2, and 3? Also do you start out in level 1? And any other information anyone is willing to give me! I don't care about salary or anything like that I just really want to know what being a NICU nurse is really all about! Thank you!!!!

[johnnyarei]

Level I: Basic Newborn Care: Level 1 nurseries care for healthy, full-term babies. They are able to stabilize babies born near term to get them ready to transfer to facilities that offer special care.

Level II: Specialty Newborn Care: Special care nurseries care for babies born at greater than 32 weeks gestation or who are recovering from more serious conditions.

• Level IIA: These nurseries do not provide assisted ventilation.
  
• Level IIB: These nurseries can provide assisted ventilation for less than 24 hours, and can also provide continuous positive airway pressure (CPAP).
  

Level III: Subspecialty Newborn Care: Level III NICUs care for the sickest babies and offer the greatest variety of support.

• Level IIIA: These nurseries care for babies born greater than 28 weeks. They offer mechanical ventilation and minor surgical procedures such as central line placement.
  
• Level IIIB: Level IIIB NICUs can offer different types of mechanical ventilation, have access to a wide range of pediatric specialists, can use imaging capabilities beyond x-ray, and may provide some surgeries requiring anesthesia.
  
• Level IIIC: The most acute care is provided in level IIIC NICUs, sometimes called level IV NICUs. These nurseries can provide advanced ventilation, including ECMO, and can provide advanced surgeries including “open-heart” surgeries to correct congenital heart defects.
  

Hope this helps!

Information found at: All About The NICU

[RN2BPARK]

Hey I'm new to the site, I am accepted to fall 2012 nursing program at scottsdale and looking for insight? Is the program good for the money? How do you like the instructors? Labs, clinicals? Is financial aid/advisors awful as I've heard? Any/all words of wisdome would be great! Thanks!

[babyNP., APRN]

This is a forum for the NICU. You would be better advised in the Arizona nursing school forum, which is located under the tab, "U.S." at the top of this page.