ORGANIZATION OF NEONATAL CARE UNIT AND THEIR

EQUIPMENTS

DEFINITION

•Newborn or neonatal intensive care unit,an intensive care unit designed for premature and ill
newborn babies.

or

•A neonatal intensive care unit,is an intensive care unit specializing in the care of ill or premature
newborn infants.

AIM OF THE ORGANIZATION OF A NICU

•Reducing the neonatal mortality and improving the quality of life among the survivors.

OBJECTIVES

•To save the life of the sick new born

•To prevent damage in infants with problems at birth and also reduce morbidity in later life

•To monitor high risk newborns so as to reduce mortality and morbidity in these babies

BASIC REQUIREMENTS

• Adequate space

•Availability of running water round the clock

•Centralized oxygen and suction facilities

•Maintenance of thermo neutral environment

•Availability of plenty of linen and disposables

•Facilities for availability to treat common neonatal problems .

MAIN COMPONENTS TO BE CONSIDER WHILE ORGANIZING A NICU

1. PHYSICAL FACILITIES :

a).Physical facilities

•Location: The pediatric ward should be located as close as possible to pediatric intensive
care unit (PICU)to promote safe and easy transfer of infant from one area to other. The
location of pediatric ward should be such that sunlight enters during day time and enhances
the brightness and provide UV rays to augment asepsis.

•Space: of the size of the ward is related to the expected population intended to be served .In
ward each infant should be provided with a minimum area of 100sq.ft or 10 m square.

•Floor plan :The ward should be in a square shape so that abundant open space is available
a spilt unit on either side of corridor should be avoided for ease of prevention of infection

•Ventilation: Effective ventilation of ward is necessary to reduce Nosocomial infection the

most satisfactory ventilation is achieved with laminar air flow system which is a bite
expensive .A simple method for achieving satisfactory ventilation consists of expensive.

2.Lighting :The ward must be well illuminated and painted white or slightly Off white to
permit prompt detection of jaundice and cyanosis.

•Environmental temperature and humidity:

The Temperature of the ward must be maintain around 28 positive negative 2degree c. in
order to minimize effect of thermal stress on babies.
Acoustic characteristics : The ventilation system ,incubators, air compressors,suction pump
and many other divices used in ward procuce noise. sound intensity in wards should not exceed
75 db.

 Electrical outlet: there should be adequate number of lights and electrical power points
attached to a common ground.
 Ambience and ward culture: In pediatric unit the surroundings should be homelike and
cheerful and the décor scaled to the childs size.
 HANDLING AND SOCIAL CONTACTS
 COMMUNICATION SYSTEM
2. WARD PERSONNEL:
It is important that while allocating nursing ,medical and
paramedical staff the needs of the ward are kept in mind .sufficient number of adequate
trained nurses should be available in the ward .
3. EQUIPMENTS :
 Resuscitation equipments
 Bag and mask resuscitator
 Oxygen and suction facilities
 Catheters ,syringes and needles
 Feeding equipments
 Weighting machine
 Thermometer
 Oxygen hood
 Phototherapy units
 Infusion pump
4. LABORATORY FACILITIES :
Satisfactory facilities for routine radiological examination should be available in the
ward .a side laboratory for routine analysis of blood ,urine, gastric aspirate etc.

5.PROCEDURE MANUAL
It is essential continuity and uniformity of services .
 Care of babies
 Indications for admission and discharge.
 Housekeeping rituals to prevent infection
 Policy regarding mother and baby contact
 Policy regarding management of emergencies in ward.