In its goal to provide family-centered care, the VUMC NICU supports patient visitation by parents, grandparents, siblings, and documented support persons.  However, it is also necessary to maintain a developmentally sensitive environment, to ensure infection control, to preserve confidentiality, and to optimize the ability to provide care.

Parents are allowed to visit at any time except during rounds and shift change (see below.) If parents permit, grandparents are allowed to visit independently.  Parents are also invited to choose 2 other support persons who may be allowed to visit without the parents present.  These names should be documented in the Nursing Admission Database.  All other visitors must be accompanied by a parent.

Children older than 12 are allowed to visit as adults.  There are no restrictions on adult visitation.  There are special restrictions for younger sibling visitation.

            Before visiting, parents should screen themselves and any other potential visitors for infectious symptoms or exposures that may place a neonate at risk.  A list of contraindications for visitation is posted at the medical receptionist's desk.  All visitors, parents included, must stop by the medical receptionist's desk, read the notice, and sign in the logbook before visiting their baby.  Handwashing is to be emphasized.

TO VISIT:

Visitors should call 2-0963 or ask at the medical receptionist's desk to verify with the patient’s nurse if visitation is acceptable.

All visitors should follow the directions posted on the scrub room door regarding hand-washing and gowning.  Visitors should read the questions posted at the medical receptionist's desk regarding infectious illness and acknowledge having read it and being "self-screened" by signing in the logbook.  Upon entering the nursery, visitors should go directly to the patient’s bedside. Before contacting their infant in the nursery, visitors should wash their hands again.

Only two visitors should be at a bedside at any one time.  If multiple infants are co-bedding, only two visitors are allowed at the bedside, NOT two visitors per baby.

Visitors will be asked to step out of the room during physicians’ rounds (9:30 am – 11:30 am) and during nurses’ change of shift (6:30 am – 7:30 am, 2:30 pm – 3:00 pm, and 6:30 pm – 7:30 pm.)  Exceptions may be made per nursing judgment under extenuating circumstances (infant going to surgery, infant dying, etc.)  At any time during a visit, the nurse or physician may have to ask visitors to leave due to extenuating circumstances (an admission, procedure, acute decompensation, etc.) 

Effective 5/1/02.  Discussed at Clinical Division meeting 4/15/02 and Unit Board meeting 4/23/02.  Reinstituted after Collaborative Pathways meeting 12/11/02