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NIDCAP is a philosophy and a practice that informs our unique approach to caregiving

 

NIDCAP
Overview

  • The earliest, most comprehensive, and research-evidenced system for assessing and supporting the individual strengths of prematurely born and other high medical risk infants while they are still in the hospital
  • A caregiving approach that focusses on each infant’s unique behavioral communications and adapts care and the caregiving environment
  • A program whose mission is to support expert medical and nursing care with a focus on mutual respect, caring, nurturance of and collaboration with infants and families and among healthcare professionals
  • A model that gives the infant a voice and an active role, together with the family, in the care they receive

How it Works

  • Reads infant behavior so that we may hear their voice and understand them
  • Teaches us what the infant expects for comfort, wellbeing, and a sense of security
  • Supports healthy development through sensitive caregiving
  • Understands that infants’ parents are valued as their most important, lifelong nurturers, regulators and facilitators
  • Embeds expert medical and nursing care within the active pursuit of mutual respect, caring, nurturance of and collaboration with infants and families and among healthcare professionals

The Practice
of NIDCAP

  • Focuses on each infant’s unique behavioral communications
  • Translates infant’s movements, heart rate, breathing, skin color, facial expressions, and other behaviors into understandable language
  • Conducts detailed behavioral observations of the infant’s communication to form the basis for decision making, planning and all care
  • Fosters infant strengths while decreasing vulnerabilities and stresses
  • Supports family competence and confidence on their path to increased independence
  • Supports the professional and personal growth of healthcare professionals in their partnerships with each infant and their families
  • Assures continual reflection and self-assessment within the nursery setting
  • Guides care of each infant and family through the newborn and infant intensive and special care nurseries and beyond

Learn More

NIDCAP is family‐centered, individualized and developmentally supportive.

NIDCAP Goals & Benefits

NIDCAP care is fully integrated and achieved when considerations are made for:

NIDCAP Care
for Infants

NIDCAP care for infants is fully integrated and achieved when considerations are made for their:

    • Stability, comfort, and developmental goals
    • Health and well-being
    • Family’s participation

Benefits:

    • In hospital:
      • Comfort, relaxation, restfulness, pleasure and joyful interactions
      • Non‐pharmacological intervention strategies to alleviate experiences of pain, agitation and discomfort
      • Steady breathing with fewer days on the ventilator and requiring extra oxygen
      • Nurturant and nutritive breast (and bottle) feeding with fewer days of gavage feeding
      • Less severity and incidence of lung disease and brain bleeding (IVH)
      • Steady weight gain and growth
      • Shortened hospital stays and discharge at earlier ages
    • Beyond hospital:
      • Enhanced brain structure and function
      • Improved neurobehavioral outcome in infancy, childhood and adulthood

NIDCAP Care
for Families

NIDCAP care for families is fully integrated and achieved when considerations are made for their:

    • Active and ongoing participation in their infant’s care
    • Equal partnership as essential members of the care team
    • Role as the lifelong nurturers and advocates of their infants

Benefits:

    • Enhanced confidence and competence
    • Comfort in their role as the lifelong nurturers and advocates of their infants

NIDCAP Care
for Healthcare
Professionals

NIDCAP care for healthcare professionals is fully integrated and achieved when considerations are made for their:

    • Ongoing NIDCAP training, mentoring and support
    • Continuous professional and personal growth
    • Ability to provide NIDCAP care that promotes optimal outcomes for all infants and families in their nursery
    • Mutual respect, caring, nurturance of and collaboration with infants and families and among healthcare professionals
    • Appreciation and understanding of the dignity, comfort and well‐being for themselves

Benefits:

  • Professional and personal growth
  • Increased sense of competence
  • Job retention and satisfaction

NIDCAP Care for
Hospital Systems

NIDCAP care for hospital systems is fully integrated and achieved when considerations are made for the:

    • Inclusion of NIDCAP Professionals on staff
    • Recognition of the importance of the role of the infant and family in care
    • Importance of the physical environment for the infants and families served
    • Deep respect and care for the dignity, comfort and well-being of infants and families
    • Deep respect and care for the dignity, comfort and well‐being of the staff

Benefits:

    • Healthcare professionals and staff retention and satisfaction
    • Healthcare professional development
    • Cost-effectiveness and efficient use of human and material resources
    • Local and international recognition and reputation for providing NIDCAP care

Healthcare
Professionals:
Getting Started

  • Training is currently available from 28 NIDCAP Training Centers (Asia, Australia, Europe, Middle East, North America, South America)
  • Please contact the NIDCAP Training Center nearest to you to discuss our training program.

NIDCAP Training Centers

Becoming NIDCAP Professionals

Frequently Asked Questions