Your First Visit  
FAMILY-CENTERED CARE IN A HIGH-TECH SETTING

You may feel anxious and overwhelmed on your first visit. It’s not easy seeing monitors and equipment at your baby’s bedside; watching your baby’s needs being monitored and met by medical staff; wondering, in this high-tech environment, what you can do to help. With this in mind, each and every member of the NICU staff is devoted to helping you and your family. During your baby’s stay in intensive care, we’re here to ease your fears, answer your questions and work with you, as partners in your baby’s care.

We’ll meet you at the door
When you arrive at the entrance to Connecticut Children’s Neonatal Intensive Care area, call us. There’s a NICU telephone at the door. This is done for security reasons, ensuring the highest levels of safety for your child.

A NICU staff member will welcome you personally and bring you to your baby. At this time, the nurse or medical staff will discuss with you what is happening and how your baby is doing. You will also meet some of the caregivers that will be involved with your child. You will be asked several questions that complete our admission process and help us take better care of your baby and family. You should also ask any questions you have about your baby's care and problems.

Your primary nurse
A primary nurse will be assigned to your baby within 24 hours of admission to the NICU. This nurse and a team of associates will:

• Provide family-centered care for your baby
• Coordinate referrals and teaching
• Act as an advocate for you and your baby
• Organize your baby’s hospital discharge
• Answer questions, respond to concerns and provide support

The name of your primary nurse and the team members will be posted at your baby’s bedside. This way, you’ll know their names and soon be able to recognize their faces.

Infection control
In the NICU, we all need to work together to give your baby a healthy start. With this in mind, we ask you to follow these infection-control measures:

Scrub up
Before you, or any visitor goes to your baby’s bedside, you must "scrub up." This means a three-minute wash, from hand to elbow. (Before scrubbing, remove jewelry and watches until the end of your visit.)

Mask up
If you have a cold, discuss your symptoms with your baby’s nurse. She will give guidance and instructions on visiting. Face masks will be provided if your cold is mild enough to continue visiting.

Screen siblings
Before a sibling visits, you will be asked to complete a "Child Health Screen." This will tell us if the sibling has been exposed to contagious diseases such as colds and flues, viruses, chickenpox and strep throat.

Don’t forget, a child may be contagious without showing any symptoms of disease. Sometimes, a week or more may pass before any signs of illness show.