NICU Parent ID and Access

[NICUnurseHannah]

Hi NICU friends!

I'm imploring all you experts to share the way your NICU identifies parents and grants access to the unit.

Currently in my unit parents have a copy of their baby's ID band that they must wear...just two of these are given out per baby (typically to mom and dad unless there's an extenuating circumstance). When parents arrive to the unit they pick up a phone outside the door which rings to the nurse's station and the secretary (or whoever is around) will press the button to open the doors. We have CCTV monitoring all our doors/exits so that we can see who is at the door before opening it. When babies are new to the unit we are usually pretty good about stopping the parents and asking them to identify themselves, but once we know their names/faces we let them right through. NORMALLY this works fine but there are days when we have no secretary on (or one who likes to hide in the break room:no:) and the nurses are all so busy at their bedsides that no one is at the desk. This means that sometimes parents are outside the doors for a while trying to be let in and the phone just keeps on ringing. I've heard this from more than one parent and I'm sure its beyond frustrating and discouraging to them. We try to be family-centered and stress that parents are welcome 24/7 but when they're locked out and no one lets them in we're not exactly conveying that message (through no fault or ill-will of anyone of course). Being a NICU parent is stressful and tiring enough and it sounds like this is just one more thing that adds to it.

One parent suggested badges for long term stays but that becomes a security issue as they could lose it or give it to someone else, etc. Do any of your units have a good system in place that might help us out? I'd love to hear from you all!

Thanks in advance :)

[NICU Guy, BSN, RN]

Your issue is not identifying the parents, but access to the unit. Easy solution is to have a secretary at the desk (or someone to be there when the secretary is on break/ bathroom) at all times. The one that hides in the breakroom needs to be reprimanded or fired. Problem solved.

[NICUmiiki, DNP, NP]

We have a front desk (outside of the unit). There is a tech there at all times. They must be relieved by another tech for breaks.

Parents must show ID every entrance whether we know them or not.

[KKEGS, MSN, RN]

We have a similar system. ALL guests must sign in with hospital security and have their photo taken for a daily ID badge. Then they come up to the NICU and are buzzed in similar to your unit. Then they check in with our station secretary and identify which baby they are there to see. Then they are buzzed through another set of doors. When the station secretary is on break or in the bathroom our charge nurse covers the front desk.

[babyNP., APRN]

I'm curious- do you make even your long term parents wear bracelets? Some kids stay for months. that would be a long time to wear a bracelet.

All the units in which I've worked had a 24/7 secretary who lets parents into the unit. They also do other admin work.

[bananas1]

Hey we do not do ID bracelets.. how big is your unit and what is your purpose for that? Like, do you think people would come in pretending to be a parent? Most new parents are coming straight from delivery in a wheelchair, and have their own ID badge on if we really weren't sure - but I would be really shocked to think that some random would pretend to be a parent.. that would be strange. In terms of access, all our parents have their own access card that is issued on admission. That card works like our ID cards and gives them 24/7 access to the unit. For visitors, outside our main entry doors there is a call bell system with a camera, and a phone at our end. When they press the bell the camera turns on, if we can't identify them, we ask them who they are here to see, let them in, then meet them inside the door.

[rnkaytee]

We have access badges so parents can let themselves in. We give out 2 at the beginning (not to anyone that may have CPS involvement); any shenanigans and they get them taken away. I was against it at first, wanting "more control" over the door but it's worked surprisingly well.