NICU staff

Who is caring for your baby in the neonatal intensive care unit (NICU)?

Your baby gets medical care in the NICU from many providers and staff who make up your baby’s healthcare team. Individuals on your baby’s healthcare team may change throughout your baby’s NICU stay. This depends on your baby’s condition, the length of time your baby is in the NICU, and the way the NICU schedules its staff. For example, in some NICUs, the same nurses may be assigned to care for your baby on most days, which is called primary nursing. In other NICUs, your baby may have different nurses every day. The doctors may change over time, too. Even if the providers change, everyone on your baby’s healthcare team works to give your baby the best care possible.

Talk with your baby’s healthcare team about your baby’s condition and any tests and treatments they may need. If you can’t go to the NICU because of your own condition after giving birth, call the NICU and ask to speak to a provider on their healthcare team.

Your baby’s healthcare team and other people who work in the NICU may include:

case manager — A person who may oversee your baby’s discharge from the hospital, help set up home care services and supplies, and follow up with you about insurance coverage for your baby’s NICU stay.

chaplain — A person who provides spiritual support.

charge nurse — The nurse who’s responsible for making the NICU run well, including scheduling NICU staff.  The charge nurse admits your baby to and discharges your baby from the NICU.

child life specialist - A trained professional who helps children and their families during challenging events. Child life specialists can help older children if they have a brother or sister in the NICU.  

clinical nurse specialist — Also called CNS. A nurse with special training to care for children and their families. The CNS teaches parents about their baby’s health condition.

family support coordinator — A person who provides information, help, and comfort to families when their baby is in the NICU.

lactation consultant — A person with special training to help moms breastfeed.

medical geneticist — A doctor who has special training to care for people with birth defects and genetic conditions.

neonatal nurse practitioner — Also called NNP. A nurse with special training to take care of sick babies. The NNP works with the baby’s neonatologist, can do some medical procedures, and may direct your baby’s care.

neonatal physician assistant — Also called PA. A healthcare provider who has special medical training to take care of sick newborns. The PA works with the neonatologist, performs medical procedures, and may direct your baby’s care.

neonatologist — A pediatrician who has special medical training to take care of sick newborns and may direct your baby’s care.

neonatology fellow — A pediatrician who is getting additional medical training to take care of sick newborns.

occupational therapist — Also called OT. A healthcare provider who helps figure out how well a baby feeds and swallows, and how well they move their arms and legs.

ophthalmologist — A doctor who has special medical training in the care of eyes and vision.

patient care assistant — Also called PCA. A NICU staff member who helps nurses do things like change bed sheets, feed babies, and prepare bottles.

pediatric cardiologist — A doctor who has special medical training in the care of a baby’s or child’s heart.

pediatric gastroenterologist — A doctor who has special medical training to take care of a baby’s or child’s digestive system. The digestive system is made up of organs and tubes that digest (break down) food a baby eats.

pediatric neurologist — A doctor who has special medical training to take care of a baby’s or child’s brain and spinal cord. The spinal cord is a bundle of nerves that carries signals between the brain and the body.

pediatric pulmonologist — A doctor who has special medical training to take care of a baby’s or child’s lungs.

pediatrician — A doctor who has special training to take care of babies and children.

pharmacist — A person who has special training in how medicines work and the side effects they may cause. People get prescription medicine from the pharmacist. Pharmacists also provide medicines in the hospital.

physical therapist — Also called PT. A healthcare provider who looks at any movement problems a baby has and how they may affect sitting, rolling over, or walking. The PT helps improve a baby’s muscle strength and coordination.

registered dietitian — Also called RD. A healthcare provider who is trained as an expert in nutrition. The RD works with the NICU staff to help make sure babies get all the nutrients they need. Nutrients, like vitamins and minerals, help the body stay healthy.

registered nurse — Also called RN. An RN in the NICU has special training in caring for sick newborns.

resident — A doctor who is getting training in a medical specialty. For example, a pediatric resident is getting training to become a pediatrician.

respiratory therapist — Also called RT. A healthcare provider who provides care to babies with breathing problems.

social worker — A person who is trained to help families cope with their baby’s NICU stay. A social worker can give families emotional support and help them get information about their baby’s medical condition and NICU care. They also find resources and services to help families care for their baby, work with insurance companies, and help families plan for when their baby comes home.

speech and language therapist — A healthcare provider who has training to help people with speech and language problems. In the NICU, this therapist often helps newborns with feeding problems.

surgeon — A doctor who has special medical training in doing surgery and other procedures.

technician — A person who’s trained to do things like take blood or X-rays. An x-ray is a test that uses small amounts of radiation to take pictures of the inside of the body.

transport team — A team of healthcare providers who move babies from one hospital to another.

Last reviewed: April 2025