If you've had a baby or are expecting, you might be familiar with the acronym NICU. Neonatal Intensive Care Units, or NICUs, are specialized departments within hospitals that focus on newborn babies and any extra care that they may require.
AdventHealth for Children in Orlando is recognized as a Level IV NICU, offering the highest level of newborn care for your little one.
Here's a brief guide to learn more about the different levels of NICUs and what they do.
The History of the NICU
In 1922, hospitals began creating spaces specifically for newborns and the first NICUs were born. However, it wasn't until the 1970s that they became an established part of every hospital in developed countries.
In 2004, the American Academy of Pediatrics introduced what we now know as the levels of NICU. In 2012, it was amended to four levels of NICU, which set forth expectations and regulations for determining the level of care and resources required to be certified in each level.
Level I NICU
Level I care means that the baby is admitted to the NICU. These patients require observation and monitoring of vital signs, routine screening and care, and/or transitional support for infants born at 35 weeks’ gestation or more.
Level II NICU
Level II NICUs are often called special care nurseries.
Level II NICU can provide:
- Care for babies born at 30 weeks and greater, weighing at least 1,250 grams (about 2.75 pounds)
- Care for babies who are moderately ill with problems that are expected to get better and who aren't anticipated to need urgent specialty care
- Care for babies growing stronger or transitioning from a higher level of intensive care
- Mechanical ventilation up to 72 hours
- Oxygenation support by continuous positive airway pressure, high flow cannula or low flow cannula
- Gastric tube or bottle feeding
- Peripheral IV access and fluid administration
- Interventions such as phototherapy
- Stabilize infants born before 30 weeks’ gestation and weighing less than 1,250 grams until transfer to a neonatal intensive care facility
Level II NICUs must be staffed by neonatologists, neonatal nurse practitioners and specialized neonatal registered nurses.
Level III NICU
Level III NICUs care for all viable gestations of prematurity as well as critically ill term infants.
Level III NICU can provide:
- Sustained life support
- Comprehensive care for all term and preterm infants
- A full range of respiratory support modalities
- Advanced monitoring
- Central line placement and administration of parenteral nutrition (TPN)
- High-Frequency Oscillator Ventilation (HFOV)
- High-Frequency Jet Ventilation (HFJV)
- Management of congenital anomalies and diagnoses
- Provide advanced imaging and interpretation
- Provide access to a full range of pediatric surgical specialists, pediatric medical subspecialists, pediatric ophthalmologists and pediatric anesthesiologists
Level IV NICU
Level IV NICU is the highest level of care available for premature and critically ill newborns.
Level IV NICU can provide:
- All the capabilities of a Level III NICU
- Extracorporeal membrane oxygenation (ECMO)
- Complex surgery
- Multidisciplinary care
- Provide surgical repair of complex congenital or acquired conditions
Level IV NICUs are leading-edge, state-of-the-art, top-quality facilities. Our level IV NICU is the best place for a baby to be at their most fragile time.
AdventHealth for Children in Orlando is a Level IV NICU
Our expert, caring team constantly strives to innovate and improve patient care, so babies have optimal outcomes. For patients’ families, our Level IV NICU designation means you can be confident we have the expertise to care for even the most critically ill baby. Thank you for putting your trust in us.
If you're pregnant and looking for the highest level of care available for your baby, please visit our NICU page to learn more
