A Guiding Hand for Families in NICU and Special Care Nurseries - Digital - Book - Page 30
An introduction to the NICU and SCN
Transferring from NICU to SCN
There comes a time when your baby is well enough to graduate from their
special spot in the NICU and enter the new world of the SCN. It can be scary
when your baby no longer needs such a high level of care and enters the
less complex environment of special care. In the SCN, there are babies in
open cots and some still in their incubators. Suddenly there is more activity babies may make more noise and parents and nurses are talking. The world
of the NICU can seem so sheltered and secure so this is a big step for you
and your baby.
There are many reasons why in the SCN, you will find that there is one nurse
caring for several babies. Some of these may include:
• Continuous monitoring of their breathing or heart rate
• Additional oxygen
• Tube feeding
• Phototherapy (neonatal jaundice)
• Recovery and convalescence from other care
• Baby developing and reaching the required
discharge weight
While your baby is in the SCN, use the time to
practice your baby’s care and start to prepare for
your transition home. The nurses and health care
team are there to help guide you and support you.
Life’s Little Treasures Foundation | Supporting Families of Premature & Sick Babies
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