The Critical Care Nursery (CCN) at Georgetown University Hospital offers many challenges to both new graduates and experienced nurses. The CCN admits critically ill neonates as well as those infants who require less intensive care. Emphasis is placed on providing quality care in a multidisciplinary framework. Nurses will have the opportunity to integrate a high-tech environment with developmentally supportive care. Because our "little ones" require lots of loving care from our staff and their families, we emphasize a family centered approach while implementing principles from developmental research.

As part of the CCN team, our nurses participate in daily multidisciplinary teaching rounds, weekly discharge planning rounds, and parent / family teaching. Nurses have the opportunity to learn and grow professionally as they participate in more and more complex challenges such as high risk DR resuscitation and stabilization, training for transport, caring for critically ill neonates requiring such technologies as high frequency ventilation, nitric oxide, and ECMO (extracorporeal membrane oxygenation). Other opportunities abound for professional growth as the unit philosophy places value on the staff's involvement in shaping our practice to provide the best care possible.

Those selecting a fellowship with the Critical Care Nursery will participate in an in-depth orientation. The high-risk nursery orientation includes a preceptorship with an experienced critical care nursery RN, a didactic portion which covers physical assessment, developmental care, pathophysiology, disease processes, medication administration and many skills (such as central line management, IV insertion, blood drawing, chest tube care, and resuscitation). Certification in the Neonatal Resuscitation Program will be provided upon completion of this section of training. In addition, nurses will be given the opportunity to attend a high risk follow-up clinic to assist in the care of former nursery "graduates".