NICU Documentaries

[maeli]

Hi everyone,

I am a 3rd year BSN student (up in Canada eh ). I'm working on my NICU specialty while doing my BSN in hopes to gain a preceptorship placement next year. I'm a long time lurker of you NICU nurses and love reading the stories you all post!

Anyway, I came across an awesome miniseries on Netflix the other day. It was a PBS special called "Twice Born". It's a 3 part series where they perform rare surgeries on fetuses while still in the womb. It was fascinating--especially for any aspiring NICU nurses like me. You get a minimal sense of what a NICU environment is like. I believe you can watch it on the PBS website as well if you don't have Netflix.

Have any of you come across any other documentaries, miniseries, etc. that relate to the NICU (nursing, family experiences, etc.)? I'm looking for more like this one.

[poppycat, ADN, BSN]

There's an awesome documentary called "Little Man" that I would recommend. It's probably about 10-11 years old.

[NICU Guy, BSN, RN]

There are several videos on youtube that parents have put out abut their experience having a baby in the NICU.

[rnkaytee]

I was going to say Little Man too!

[Luckyyou, BSN, RN]

These aren't documentaries, but....

I've always thought this article was a nice antithesis to the "MIRACLE BABY BORN AT 300 GRAMS FLIES SOLO ROCKET TRIP TO MARS" stories you see in the news far more often than the actual reality of the NICU: 'Nathan was born at 23 weeks. If I'd known then what I do now, I'd have wanted him to die in my arms' | Society | The Guardian

Also see: Micro preemie parents decide whether or not to save premature baby | Tampa Bay Times

23 Weeks 6 Days - Radiolab

And

The tiniest babies, the toughest decisions; Parents of micropreemies weigh lifesaving measures against a lifetime of disability

[maeli]

Awesome, thanks for all the suggestions! I'm desperately trying to find a way to watch Little Man online, but looks like I'll have to order it as a DVD.

[Baby Wrangler]

Hi fellow Canadian! :) Another documentary that I would suggest you watch is called Keeping Canada Alive, and it's free to stream on the CBC website. It was just filmed in May of this year, and it's about the different areas of the Canadian health care system seen through the eyes of different patients/health care providers. It's very good, I've watched three episodes so far. I think that they may feature NICU in future episodes. I think it's a good watch for a new nurse too. It sounds like you have your heart set on NICU, but it gives you a good overview of what it's like working in different areas too.

[thatsthekeyRNC]

Watched "Twice Born" today and loved it!! I would love if they did more!

[maeli]

Hi fellow Canadian! :) Another documentary that I would suggest you watch is called Keeping Canada Alive, and it's free to stream on the CBC website. It was just filmed in May of this year, and it's about the different areas of the Canadian health care system seen through the eyes of different patients/health care providers. It's very good, I've watched three episodes so far. I think that they may feature NICU in future episodes. I think it's a good watch for a new nurse too. It sounds like you have your heart set on NICU, but it gives you a good overview of what it's like working in different areas too.

I'll definitely check this out, thanks! I do have my heart set on NICU, but it's always good to keep my options open in case I'm unable to get in right away!

[maeli]

I'm glad you liked it, thatsthekeyRN! I may have got emotional a few times throughout it...

I hope they do more as well!

[smmm]

Call the Midwife. Take place in rural 1950-60's England. It shows how young midwives managed to care for moms and babies (and even older adult population) when technology and medicine still seemed like it was in archaic times. I love it and can't wait for next season. I also recommend getting the book, because it is much better and doesn't focus as much on the drama of each character.