Neonatal Intensive Care Unit (NICU)

The 21-bed Level IIIB Newborn Intensive Care Unit (NICU) at Hennepin Healthcare provides the highest level of care in a warm and nurturing environment to infants in distress at birth, those requiring close observation, and those transferred from other facilities for treatment of neonatal diseases. Because we are uniquely located within the Birth Center and staffed around the clock, we are available to delivering mothers at a moment's notice.

The NICU is staffed by a comprehensive team of specialists that includes neonatologists, neonatal nurse practitioners, neonatal nurses, respiratory therapists, a pediatric nutritionist, pharmacists, social workers, and a dedicated public health nurse.

Our unit offers advanced respiratory support for babies with breathing difficulties, including high frequency ventilation and inhaled nitric oxide. We provide cardiac and respiratory monitoring equipment as well as laboratory and imaging facilities such as X-ray, CT, and MRI. We have a lactation consultant and an occupational therapist who work with families for success in their infant's growth and development. We also have a social worker whose sole responsibility is to help our NICU families, and we provide pastoral care by request.

After graduating from the NICU, newborns need special follow-up to monitor development and to make sure babies become and stay healthy, so they are seen at our Newborn Intensive care Unit Follow-Up Clinic.