We Will Be Getting A New NICU

MNNICU, RN · Feb 26, 2016

Hi!

We got a new NICU about 2 years ago or so. Ours isn't that huge but we have all individual patient rooms. Two of which have collapsible walls between them to be "twin" rooms. The rooms can also be "doubled up" as they are equipped with hooks ups for two monitors/02/Suction which is REALLY nice when it gets busy. They do get a little cramped when doubled but we have to be able to take sick babies. We are a level III but don't do ECMO or post surgical (rarely we have a few but not a ton). We have a charting kiosk between each room which I also love and those kiosks have monitor displays on the computers that you can watch and silence if it's alarming for a dumb reason- which happens! Also love that. The rooms have fridges in them for breast milk, a futon tyoe couch and recliner chair for the moms/dads to stay 24/7 if they can. The charge nurse desk is in the middle and has a read out for all of the patients. Another wonderful thing is our family room. It's set up with a full kitchen (oven, microwave, fridge, freezer, dishwasher) washer dryer set up, 2 bathrooms with showers, computer areas for family, a cozy fire place and TV with a play area for siblings and a few dining areas- that was all donated by the Ronald McDonald house. We also utilize vocera badges so if we are in a different patients room and an alarm is going off it alarms above the door and also to our badges so we are aware something is happening. So far the only thing I hate is that they used cheap flooring that squeaks no matter what- it's annoying and not very conducive to developmental care. It's gotten better as the staff has figured out which brand shoes squeak and which don't. I know our manager toured like 10 NICUs in the state to pick and choose what she liked and didn't and then brought those ideas forward to the Unit Based Practice Committee so things were tweaked a lot. They also used patient advocates who had babies in the past NICU to see what they thought would have been helpful for their stay. The first year we have to trouble shoot and change a few things but most of the major bugs are fixed and it's a seriously amazing unit. Mostly the nurses have had a hard time adjusting to parents allowed 24/7 and them sleeping/ pretty much living there. We have strict visitor rules and siblings are never allowed to stay. But it has drastically increased our breast feeding/milk rates. I hope you guys get a nice NICU! Let me know if you have any other questions

kitty29 · Mar 7, 2016

TY very much. I copied your note, :)

BittyBabyGrower, MSN, RN · Mar 8, 2016

Your unit sounds great! We are getting a new wing in the next 4 years, but we are a county hospital and I could only wish for all that great stuff! We will be lucky to get the bare minimum! A girl can dream though!