Dr. Alex Karev checking vitals on a preemie in the NICU.
A neonatal intensive care unit (commonly referred to the NICU) is an intensive care unit specializing in the care of ill or premature newborn infants. A NICU is typically directed by one or more neonatologists and staffed by nurses, nurse practitioners, pharmacists, physician assistants, resident physicians, and respiratory therapists. Many other ancillary disciplines and specialists are available at larger units.
Seattle Grace Hospital commanded a state-of-the-art NICU formerly under the direction of the Head of OB/GYN and Neonatal Surgery, Dr. Addison Montgomery. After her departure to LA, it is unknown who serves as the NICU-head; however, pediatric surgeons and other attendings on the surgical staff tended to act as the NICU's leadership.
After the merger with Mercy West Medical Center and the re-organization with the hospital board's leadership, the NICU is now part of Grey Sloan Memorial Hospital.
St. Ambrose Hospital also houses a NICU, presumably under the direction of neonatologists and pediatric surgeons.
Notable Cases in the NICU[]
Grey's Anatomy[]
Sofia Robbin Sloan Torres[]
Sofia was born via emergency caesarean section at 23.5 weeks gestation,[1] weighing 1 lb., 1 oz. After her birth, she spent the first 12 weeks of her life in the NICU before going home. During this time, she experienced a grade one brain bleed. Her VSD also failed to close naturally, so it required surgery, which was performed by Dr. Robert Stark as her mother, Arizona Robbins, looked on.[2]
Private Practice[]
Notes and Trivia[]
- NICU gowns are typically worn by hospital staff and visitors prior to entering.
- In Grey's Anatomy, the NICU gowns are pink.[source?]
- In Private Practice, the NICU gowns are blue.[source?]
- Because Grey's Anatomy primarily focuses on surgeons, neonatologists are neither mentioned nor featured, despite their real-world day-to-day involvement in the NICU.
- There's a closet in the NICU where they store baby stuff that parents leave behind when their baby doesn't make it.[source?]
- The following main characters' children were NICU patients:
- Grey's Anatomy
- Private Practice
See Also[]
References[]
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