The RCNIC Team
The Regional Center for Newborn Intensive Care (RCNIC) at Children's Hospital Medical Center of Cincinnati uses a team of professionals to best meet the needs of each of its patients. The RCNIC team is multidisciplinary and consists of professionals from a variety of specialties, including the following:
Attending Neonatologist
Doctor who has specialty training in the care of premature and critically ill newborns. The neonatologist is available 24 hours a day, seven days a week. The neonatologist is responsible for and directs all care of the newborn in the RCNIC.
See also: Neonatology
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Neonatology Fellow
Doctor who is currently undergoing specialty training to become a neonatologist. The neonatology fellow is available 24 hours a day, seven days a week. In addition to caring for the infants in the RCNIC, the fellow is present during transport of your baby to the unit.
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Medical Residents
Doctors who come to Cincinnati Children's to receive training in the care of children. They work closely with the attending neonatologist to care for the babies on the unit.
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Advanced Practice Nurses
The advanced practice nurse (APN) role is one that blends two traditional advanced practice nursing roles: the certified registered nurse practitioner (CRNP) and the clinical registered nurse specialist (CRNS).
The CRNP component concentrates on direct patient care management using advanced assessment and clinical skills. The APN is responsible for delivering high-quality nursing care by demonstrating advanced knowledge and expert clinical skill in neonatal/pediatric nursing. In the direct clinical role, responsibilities include the management of premature and critically ill newborns.
The CRNS component is centered on enhancing the clinical expertise of the healthcare staff by supporting development through educational, research, consultative and leadership strategies. The APN, recognizing the need for nursing excellence, will facilitate the professional growth of the nursing staff.
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Registered Nurses
Experienced nurses who care for premature and critically ill newborns at the bedside 24 hours per day. They provide high-quality nursing care with high-technology medical equipment and developmentally supportive care.
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Pharmacists
Unit-based staff provides pharmacy services in the RCNIC Monday through Friday from 8 a.m. to 4 p.m. Pharmacy services in the evening and on weekends are provided through the central pharmacy. The staff consists of a neonatal clinical pharmacist (permanently assigned to the RCNIC) and decentralized staff pharmacists (four individuals rotate through this position).
The neonatal clinical pharmacist is primarily responsible for attending patient care rounds as well as providing the team with drug information and pharmacokinetic dosing information for certain drugs.
The decentralized staff pharmacist participates in rounds as well, with primary responsibility for order entry and drug distribution. The decentralized pharmacist also helps with the provision of drug information and pharmocokinetic dosing. If requested, the pharmacy staff is available to provide drug information or medication teaching to patient families.
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Respiratory Therapists
The RCNIC has a dedicated staff of respiratory therapists providing 24-hour coverage. The therapists provide a wide range of services, such as assessing and treating infants with compromised airways, ventilator management and surfactant and nitric oxide administration. Respiratory therapists also provide point of care testing for blood gas analysis and participate in neonatal research. In addition, they serve as an educational resource for the community and other medical centers. Respiratory therapists are members of the ECMO team and maintain an active role in the multidisciplinary approach to the care of the premature and medically fragile neonate.
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Occupational Therapists
Healthcare providers that hold a bachelor or master's degree in Occupational Therapy, occupational therapists are registered with the national organization and are licensed within the state of Ohio. Occupational therapists working in the neonatal intensive care unit have extensive training and experience working with this specialized population. They provide oral motor/feeding and developmental evaluation/treatment of the premature and medically fragile infant.
Oral motor/feeding intervention may include determining the safety of oral feeding, optimal positioning for feeding, feeding techniques to improve the quality of feeding by breast or bottle, and working collaboratively with the medical team to establish feeding schedules that support the health of the baby. Developmental intervention may include hands-on treatment to influence muscle tone and movement patterns as well as providing specialized positioning to promote optimal development. Occupational therapists facilitate the transition from hospital to home by providing parent education as it relates to feeding and development.
See also: Occupational Therapy
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Social Workers
It can be very stressful being a new parent and having a sick newborn in a neonatal intensive care unit. To assist parents during stressful times, professional licensed social workers are available in the RCNIC seven days a week to offer support and social work services. Parenting, marital, family, financial and discharge planning concerns are some of the reasons parents and family members may talk with a RCNIC social worker. In the RCNIC every baby is assigned a social worker to ensure that specific family needs and/or concerns are addressed. Social workers help facilitate weekly RCNIC parent support group meetings and when necessary, arrange medical and surgical care conferences.
See also: Social Services
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Neonatal Nutritionists
The neonatal nutrition staff includes registered dietitians and registered dietetic technicians. The dietitians are licensed by the Ohio Board of Dietetics in the State of Ohio and registered by the Commission on Dietetic Registration by the American Dietetic Association. Many dietitians have additional training or certifications.
The neonatal nutritionists serve as the nutrition consultants on the clinical team in the RCNIC. They advise the team on nutrition management for intravenous, or I.V., nutrition (parenteral) and oral (enteral) nutrition. Premature or other high-risk newborns have unique nutrition needs and the neonatal nutritionists' role is to work with the team to ensure those needs are met. They monitor the baby's clinical status including lab values and growth parameters to help determine if the nutrition therapy is tolerated. Prior to discharge, the nutritionists ensure each baby is on a nutritional regimen which will meet the infant's needs at home.
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Pastoral Care
Pastoral care is available 24 hours a day, seven days a week to meet the needs of parents and family members.
See also: Pastoral Care
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Lactation Resources
The RCNIC supports the recommendation of the American Academy of Pediatrics to provide breast milk for the first year of life. Since most babies admitted to the RCNIC are unable to nurse, we provide mothers with support as they establish their milk supply for their infant by offering:
- Four private breastfeeding rooms with Medela Classic Pumps for pumping or nursing
- Breast pumps on trolleys in each pod with privacy screens for expressing milk without leaving baby's bedside
- Comprehensive list of rental stations for breast pump rental at home
- Universal breast pump kits for milk expression
- Many other supplies such as shells, shields, supplemental nurser systems and more.
The RCNIC is staffed with lactation educators/support personnel who assist mothers with breastfeeding. Lactation resources are available 24 hours a day.
See also: Center for Breastfeeding Medicine
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Discharge Coordinators
The RCNIC provides discharge coordination services for every patient and family on the unit. In addition to anticipation of and planning for all home care needs, the three discharge coordinators organize individualized education for parents and families. They collaborate with the multidisciplinary team to provide smooth and timely transition to home. Discharge coordinators arrange subsequent healthcare providers upon discharge to the community as needed.
Jean, Jeanne, and Clare are experienced staff nurses with a combined 60 years of experience in the RCNIC. They have attained the level of Clinical Nurse III at Cincinnati Children's and are recognized for their various areas of expertise including the general surgical neonate, extracorporeal membrane oxygenation (ECMO), and International Nursing Links.
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High-Risk Infant Follow-Up Clinic
Outpatient clinic staffed by neonatologists, nurses, neonatal nutritionists, occupational therapists, physical therapists, speech language pathologists, and social workers to meet the highly specialized medical and developmental needs of the premature or medically fragile infant. Infants are referred to the clinic by the staff of the RCNIC.
See also: High-Risk Infant Follow-Up Clinic
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For more information about the RCNIC, please call 513-636-4466 or toll-free, 1-800-227-5560.
