Newborn intensive care unit - house staff

The house staff refers to the team of caregivers that are involved in the care of your infant in the NICU. They often include the following:

ATTENDING PHYSICIAN

The main physician responsible for the care of your baby. The attending physician has completed fellowship training in Neonatology and residency training in Pediatrics. This physician is involved in supervising and teaching the other members of the house staff in the course of caring for your baby.

NEONATOLOGIST

A neonatologist is a pediatrician with special training in caring for babies that are sick and require intensive care after birth. They coordinate the care for the majority of babies in the NICU. At times, the neonatologist might consult with other specialists to help with your baby's care. Although there are many different people involved in your baby's care while in the NICU, it is the neonatologist who determines and coordinates the daily plan of care.

SURGEON

A surgeon is a physician with special training in diagnosis and care of conditions that require surgery. They might be asked to see babies in the Newborn Intensive Care Unit (NICU) with birth defects, or a condition that occurs after birth, such as necrotizing enterocolitis. Surgeons might also be asked to insert central catheters in babies that require long-term intravenous fluids.

NICU NURSE

The NICU nurse has received special training in caring for babies in the Newborn Intensive Care Unit (NICU). Nurses play a very important role in the continuous monitoring of the baby and the support and education of the family. Of all the caregivers in the NICU, nurses usually spend the most time at a baby's bedside caring for the baby, as well as the family. A nurse might also be a member of the NICU Transport Team or become an Extra-Corporeal Membrane Oxygenation (ECMO) specialist after special training.

CLINICAL FELLOW

A physician who is training in the sub-specialty of Neonatology. This physician has completed a residency in General Pediatrics.

CHIEF RESIDENT

A physician who has completed training in General Pediatrics and now supervises other residents.

SENIOR RESIDENT

A physician who is in their third year of training in General Pediatrics. This physician generally supervises the junior resident and intern.

JUNIOR RESIDENT

A physician in their second of three years of training in General Pediatrics.

INTERN

A physician in their first year of residency training in General Pediatrics. This physician is also known as a first year resident.

MEDICAL STUDENT

A student physician who has not yet completed medical school. The medical student might examine and manage a patient in the hospital, similar to the above physicians, but needs to have all of their orders reviewed and counter-signed by one of the above physicians.

PHARMACIST

A pharmacist is a professional with education and training in the preparation of medications used in the Newborn Intensive Care Unit (NICU). They help prepare things such as antibiotics, immunizations, and intravenous (IV) solutions, such as Total Parenteral Nutrition (TPN).