Provider Roles
Provider Roles
Who's Who and What They Do
Doctors
- Neonatologist: A pediatrician who specializes in the care of sick and premature newborns
- Neonatal fellow: A doctor who has finished pediatric training and is receiving additional training to become a neonatologist
- Pediatric resident: A doctor receiving special training to become a pediatrician
- Pediatric intern: A doctor in the first year of training following graduation from medical school
Nurses
- Nurse manager: A registered nurse who oversees all unit operations
- Neonatal nurse practitioner: A registered nurse who has received additional specialized training to perform specific procedures and develop patient-focused care plans
- Neonatal nurse leader: A registered nurse who assists the nurse manager in overseeing unit operations
- Neonatal nurse: A registered nurse who specializes in the care of sick and premature newborns in the NICU
- Discharge coordinator: A registered nurse who assists with patient education and preparations for parents to take their baby home. She or he also helps with the transfer of babies to and from regional nurseries.
- Lactation nurse: A neonatal nurse who has an additional certification in lactation.
Technical Support
- Respiratory therapist: A health team member with special knowledge of breathing problems, treatment, and equipment.
- Radiology technician: A health team member who takes medical images of your baby. This may be done in the NICU or in the radiology department.
Social Support
- Social Worker: A health team member trained to help families cope with problems related to their baby’s hospitalization
- Chaplains: Ministers, priests, and rabbis who are available to families any time for spiritual support or prayer
- Parent to Parent Support Group: An organization of volunteer parents who have had an infant in the NICU
- Cuddler Program volunteers: Specially trained hospital volunteers who hold babies who need some extra TLC when parents can't be there