NICU or Neonatal Intensive Care Unit
NICU is an acronym that stands for Neonatal Intensive Care Unit. The NICU is the department of the hospital which cares for prematurely born babies (neonates) who are not fully developed, and therefore are unable to survive on their own without the assistance of monitoring equipment, incubators, and breathing apparatus. Babies may also be admitted to the NICU if they had problems during delivery or developed a problem soon after birth (before going home) that requires the specialized care available in the unit.
Doctors that are largely involved with caring for patients in the NICU include neonatologists, pediatricians, and OB/GYNs, as well as a variety of nurses who specialize in neonatal care, including neonatal nurse practitioners and registered nurses, and technicians who help operate and maintain the equipment in the NICU.
A variety of specialists treat conditions often seen in the NICU, including neurologists, cardiologists, and surgeons. Other therapists and professionals will provide care in NICU along with their duties other areas of the hospital, including respiratory therapists, speech-language pathologists, registered dietitians, physical therapists, pharmacists, lab technicians, social workers, and chaplains.