| Description |
While the NICU is known for saving the lives of many babies born prematurely or with life-threatening illnesses, the interventions and experiences that are a part of this care often leave lasting effects on the newborn and his family, even long after discharge. After orienting participants to the NICU environment and the types of experiences common within it, this workshop will feature video interviews conducted by the presenter with several families, looking at their experiences and the impact that they have had on the life of their family. This workshop will then help participants to consider how these experiences may influence their interactions with families from the NICU, through changes in approach by interdisciplinary teams, early interventionists, care providers, and early educators, and how we, as professionals, can continue to build on each family’s strengths and resilience.
At the conclusion of this workshop, participants will be able to:
1. Identify at least three common NICU interventions and explain the benefits as well as the long-term impact of each, for the baby and the family
2. Describe the NICU experience and its potential effects from the perspective of the baby
3. Explain the experience of the NICU and its long-term impacts from the perspective of members of the family
4. Compare and contrast the commonalities and differences in experience among different families, as well as consider their different ways of coping or being supported through the experiences
5. Create a personal plan for how this information may shape how participants consider the NICU journey in their work with children and families who are NICU graduates, and how this may shape their approach to practice
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