The NICU is a busy place. Babies need constant monitoring and 24-hour care from different health care providers. All of these health professionals are part of a team that is working to help your baby get stronger and help you cope while your baby is in the NICU. You are an important member of this team as well. Please ask questions and be involved in the care of your baby!
Who are all these people around my baby?
Here is a list of NICU staff and what they do. Some or all of these people may be a part of the team taking care of your baby/babies.
Our neonatologists, maternal-fetal specialists and obstetrician/gynecologists on staff at UAMS are also doctors at Arkansas Children’s Hospital.
Staff Roles in the NICU
- Chaplain- a person who provides pastoral, emotional and spiritual support to patients, their loved ones, and staff.
- Charge Nurse (Royal Blue Scrubs)- a nurse who makes sure that the NICU runs well.
- Discharge Planner (Royal Blue Scrubs)- a nurse who makes sure that everything is in line and complete in order for your baby to be discharged from the hospital and have the care they need when you get home.
- Lactation Consultant (Royal Blue Scrubs)- a nurse who has special training in helping women breastfeed and pump breast milk to provide to the babies.
- Neonatal Nurse Practitioner (NNP) (Ceil Blue Scrubs)- a health care provider who has special nursing and medical training in caring for sick babies. The NNP works with the babies’ doctor and other medical team members and can do medical procedures for babies.
- Neonatologist (Ceil Blue Scrubs)- a pediatrician (children’s doctor) who has special training in caring for sick babies.
- Occupational Therapist (OT) (Wine/ Maroon Scrubs)- a health care provider that assists with helping your infant with pre-feeding non-nutritive skills, oral development, tolerance for touch and position changes, and physical development.
- Patient Education Specialist (Brown Scrubs)- a person who is trained to develop and provide an appropriate education for NICU families.
- Pediatric Resident (Ceil Blue Scrubs or Business Casual with White Coat)- a doctor who is getting medical training in taking care of babies and children.
- Pediatrician (Ceil Blue Scrubs or Business Casual with White Coat)- a doctor who has special training in taking care of babies and children.
- Pharmacist (Black Scrubs)- a person who has special training in how medications work and the side effects they may cause.
- Physical Therapist (PT) (Wine/ Maroon Scrubs)- a health care provider who may assess positioning, handling, coordination, active movement, developmental reflexes, and perform a neonatal massage.
- Registered Dietitian (RD) (Purple Scrubs)-. a health care provider who is trained as an expert in nutrition. The RD works with the babies’ doctors and nurses to help make sure that babies get all the nutrients they need. Nutrients, like vitamins and minerals, help the body stay healthy.
- Registered Nurse (RN) (Royal Blue Scrubs)- a health care provider who has nursing training. An RN in the NICU has special training in caring for sick newborns.
- Respiratory Therapist (RT) (Teal Scrubs)- a health care provider who cares for babies with breathing problems. An RT is trained to use medical equipment needed to care for babies.
- Social Worker-A person who helps families cope with their baby’s NICU stay. The social worker can connect families with resources, give emotional support, and plan for when baby comes home.
- Speech and Language Therapist (Wine/ Maroon Scrubs)- a health care provider who has training to help your baby demonstrate the appropriate developmental skills to safely feed by mouth in the NICU and have the best potential to continue feeding well after discharge home.
- TLC Volunteers- a volunteer who has been background checked, screened and fully trained to preform the following tasks: holding stable babies, reading to babies, talking or singing to babies, providing therapeutic touch, or softly playing a musical instrument in the baby’s room.