Graduating from the NICU is an exciting milestone for parents, but it’s also one that can come with concerns and uncertainties. Babies that have been in the NICU face a higher risk for medical and developmental issues, and parents understandably want to ensure their babies’ needs are met even after they’ve left the hospital. For this reason, many hospitals are offering NICU follow-up programs.
What Are NICU Follow-Up Clinics?
NICU follow-up programs provide multidisciplinary care for high-risk babies after they’ve left the hospital. These programs are typically carried out in designated clinics within hospitals and involve regular assessments and clinical management of NICU graduates. In most cases, NICU follow-up clinics follow babies for the first few two to three years of their lives.
The goal of NICU follow-up clinics is to ensure babies born prematurely or with critical illnesses receive all the care and support they need. Medical professionals who work in these settings aim to identify any medical issues or developmental disabilities early, so that they can receive proper treatment and promote babies’ ability to thrive.
Typically, NICU follow-up appointments are scheduled by the child’s adjusted age. The frequency and number of visits will depend on each child’s unique needs, but many programs schedule visits at three, six, 12, 18, and 24 months. Visits encompass growth checks, a complete physical examination and discussion of health history, psychological or developmental assessments, evaluation of needs for additional services (such as physical therapy), and an assessment of the family’s needs for any additional resources.
Should You Work in a NICU Follow-Up Clinic?
Neonatal nurse practitioners (NNPs) play an important role in providing care for infants and toddlers in NICU follow-up clinics. While caring for high-risk and premature infants, you may work alongside other members of the neonatal team, including pediatricians, neurologist, neonatologists, physical and occupational therapists, speech language pathologists, lactation consultants, and social workers, among other specialists.
NNPs are invaluable in caring for NICU graduates and in providing complex case management. If you’re considering a career in this field, you’ll need strong collaboration skills to ensure infants receive the cross-disciplinary care they need. NNPs working in NICU follow-up clinics must also have the ability to make primary decisions about care, and will therefore need advanced knowledge and clinical experience in neonatology.
If you’re looking for the ability to work with babies who have special medical or developmental needs but are seeking an alternative to round-the-clock work hours of a traditional NICU, working in a follow-up clinic may be right for you. Follow-up clinics may also operate at a slower pace than NICU departments, but the work done in these environments is certainly no less important. Aiding in the comprehensive care of high-risk infants can make a meaningful, lasting impact on both their lives and the lives of their parents.
If you’re exploring your career options as an NNP, allow Ensearch to connect you with opportunities that fit your unique needs and expectations. Contact us for a free career consultation to get started with your next steps.
