NEC Signs and Symptoms
NEC begins in the intestines, but the first signs are often systemic. Changes in behavior, feeding tolerance, respiratory status, and perfusion can occur before obvious abdominal findings. ...more
Blog
May 22, 2026•4 min read
NEC Risk Factors: Looking Beyond the NICU
Not all infants enter the NICU with the same physiologic reserve. Some babies are already vulnerable before feeds are ever started. ...more
Blog
May 15, 2026•6 min read
Therapeutic hypothermia
Therapeutic hypothermia is one of the most critical, time-sensitive interventions used in neonatal care. In infants with hypoxic-ischemic encephalopathy (HIE), cooling is used to slow the progression ... ...more
Blog
May 01, 2026•4 min read
Hypoxic-Ischemic Encephalopathy (HIE): An Evolving Brain Injury
HIE is one of the most time-sensitive conditions we care for in the NICU… and one of the most misunderstood. ...more
Blog
April 10, 2026•4 min read
Unit Growth: Bullying, Culture, and Incivility
We talk a lot about growing as NICU nurses. But we do not talk enough about the environments we are growing in. Nurses are leaving. New nurses are struggling. And some of the hardest parts of this job... ...more
Blog
April 03, 2026•4 min read
Growth and Nutrition in the NICU
Premature babies are supposed to be growing during the third trimester. When they are born early, the NICU team has to recreate that environment outside the womb. That means carefully balancing fluids... ...more
Blog
March 13, 2026•5 min read
How High Performing NICUs Continuously Grow: Evidence Based Practice
Evidence based practice is not just a school assignment. It is how high performing NICUs reduce variation, improve outcomes, and strengthen culture. ...more
Blog
March 06, 2026•4 min read
Acyanotic Heart Defects: A Review
Acyanotic congenital heart defects are often misunderstood because oxygen saturation may remain normal. ...more
Blog
February 20, 2026•4 min read
The 5 T's: Cyanotic Heart Defects
Cyanotic congenital heart disease isn’t just about memorizing diagnoses — it’s about understanding circulation. ...more
Blog
February 15, 2026•3 min read
Cardiac Admission
Cardiac admissions can feel intimidating — especially for nurses who don’t regularly care for congenital heart disease. The instinct is often to focus on the diagnosis: What is the lesion? What surger... ...more
Blog
February 06, 2026•4 min read
The Neonatal Neurological Exam
NICU nurses will review how to perform a practical neonatal neurologic exam and how to recognize early signs that a baby’s neurologic status may be changing. ...more
Blog
January 23, 2026•4 min read
Apnea & Bradycardia in the NICU: When Escalation Is the Treatment
When it comes to apnea and bradycardia, small bedside decisions make a big difference. ...more
Blog
January 17, 2026•3 min read
Hypoglycemia in the NICU
Hypoglycemia is one of those things we see all the time in the NICU…but managing it well takes more than just reacting to a number. ...more
Blog
January 09, 2026•3 min read
Lab Values and Next Steps
Neonatal labs are more than numbers — they’re early clues to how your patient is adapting, compensating, or struggling. ...more
Blog
December 12, 2025•4 min read
Chest Tubes in the NICU
Chest tubes in the NICU look simple… but caring for them is all about tiny details and big vigilance. ...more
Blog
November 28, 2025•5 min read
Hydrops Fetalis for NICU nurses
When you get that call about a hydropic patient coming to the NICU, you can panic… or you can prepare. ...more
Blog
November 21, 2025•3 min read
World Prematurity Month
More than 15 million babies are born preterm each year, making it the leading cause of death under age five. ...more
Blog
November 14, 2025•3 min read
NAVA for NICU Nurses
Today we’re diving into one of the most advanced ventilation modes used in the NICU — NAVA, or Neurally Adjusted Ventilatory Assist ...more
Blog
November 07, 2025•4 min read
Top Ventilator Modes
Every NICU nurse should understand what each mode does — even if we don’t touch the settings. ...more
Blog
October 24, 2025•4 min read
Pregnancy and Infant Loss Awareness Day
October 15 is Pregnancy and Infant Loss Awareness Day — a reminder that some deliveries end in heartbreak, and that skilled, compassionate care matters in those silent moments too. ...more
Blog
October 17, 2025•3 min read
Spina Bifida
Spina bifida is one of the most common neural tube defects — and NICU nurses play a critical role from the first minute of life through long-term follow-up. ...more
Blog
October 11, 2025•2 min read
NICU Awareness Month: Death and Remembrance
In honor of NICU Remembrance Day, let’s remember the babies who are no longer with us, the families who carry their memory, and the nurses who walked with them. ...more
Blog
September 26, 2025•5 min read
NICU Awareness Month Then vs. Now in the NICU: Advances over time
The NICU is one of the youngest specialties in medicine—just a few decades old! That means so many things we take for granted today are actually new. ...more
Blog
September 12, 2025•4 min read
Key Definitions and Abbreviations for NICU Nurses
This week we’re diving into NICU abbreviations—because let’s be honest, NICU nursing sometimes feels like learning an entirely new language. ...more
Blog
September 05, 2025•3 min read
Common Medications in the NICU
NICU meds aren’t just about memorizing doses — the mechanism of action (MOA) is EVERYTHING 🔑. Knowing how the drug works helps you understand why we give it, what to watch for, and when to worry. ...more
Blog
August 29, 2025•5 min read
Respiratory Medications in the NICU
As NICU nurses, understanding the mechanism of action behind respiratory medications is non-negotiable. It’s not enough to know the name of the med — you need to know why it’s given, how it’s delivere... ...more
Blog
August 25, 2025•4 min read
Thermoregulation in the NICU part 2
Those moments when we go from servo mode ➡️ air mode ➡️ open crib? They’re HUGE. Not just for the baby, but for the care team and the family. ...more
Blog
August 15, 2025•3 min read
Thermoregulation in the NICU part 1
Welcome back to another week of NICU education! In this week’s blog, we’re breaking down thermoregulation in the NICU—a deceptively simple topic with life-saving implications. ...more
Blog
August 14, 2025•4 min read
Professional Development in the NICU
Whether you're a NICU newbie or a seasoned bedside boss, your career has so much room to grow—and no, it doesn't mean leaving the unit or becoming a manager (unless you want to!). This week we’re talk... ...more
Blog
July 25, 2025•3 min read
PIV Insertion in the NICU
This week we're covering a foundational NICU nursing skill: peripheral IV insertion in neonates. Whether you're a new NICU nurse or an experienced preceptor, this post walks through how to set yoursel... ...more
Blog
July 18, 2025•4 min read
Late Preterm Infants part 2
This week’s NICU nursing education topic is all about Late Preterm Infants – Part 2, where we dive into care for babies born between 34 and 36 6/7 weeks. Late preterms may not need a long NICU stay, ... ...more
Blog
July 11, 2025•5 min read
Late Preterm Infants pt 1
This week we’re focusing on Late Preterm Infants, Part 1. These are the babies born between 34⁰⁄₇ and 36⁶⁄₇ weeks — and while they may look like full-term newborns, their physiology tells a different ... ...more
Blog
July 04, 2025•4 min read
Disseminated Intravascular Coagulation (DIC) in the NICU
We’re diving into Disseminated Intravascular Coagulation (DIC)—a complex and critical condition that NICU nurses need to recognize fast. DIC isn’t a disease itself—it’s a secondary response to major i... ...more
Blog
June 27, 2025•4 min read
Ventilators & Blood Gas Management in the NICU
We review the basics of Conventional Ventilation, High-Frequency Oscillatory Ventilation (HFOV), and High-Frequency Jet Ventilation (HFJV) and then go deeper — how each mode responds to: Respiratory a... ...more
Blog
June 21, 2025•3 min read
Neonatal Blood Gases
This week is all about a core NICU nursing skill—interpreting neonatal blood gases. Whether you're a new NICU nurse or have years of experience, understanding blood gas values is key to safe, informed... ...more
Blog
June 13, 2025•3 min read
Neonatal Lab Values
This week we are focused on key neonatal labs: electrolytes, CBC, bilirubin, and blood glucose. We'll also cover pain management, types of blood draws, and how to educate families about what all these... ...more
Blog
June 08, 2025•3 min read
Birthday Special: Top AHA Moments
NICU nursing is filled with moments that challenge us, humble us, and transform how we care for our tiny patients. In this week’s Teach Me Tuesday, I’m sharing 12 powerful “Aha” moments from my NICU c... ...more
Blog
May 30, 2025•5 min read
NEC Awareness Month – Part 3: Diagnosis, Treatment, and Long-Term Outcomes
In Part 3, we’re focusing on what NICU nurses need to know when necrotizing enterocolitis (NEC) is suspected or confirmed. We’ll cover the diagnostic process (including Modified Bell’s Staging), the d... ...more
Blog
May 23, 2025•4 min read
NEC Part 2: Signs and Symptoms
This is part 2 of our NEC awareness series for NICU nurses. In this video, we're diving into the key signs and symptoms of Necrotizing Enterocolitis (NEC) that every NICU nurse must know — from subtle... ...more
Blog
May 18, 2025•2 min read
NEC Part 1: Risk factors
This week kicks off our 3-part NEC series with a deep dive into risk factors every NICU nurse should know. ...more
Blog
May 16, 2025•2 min read
Nurses Week Reflection
Being a NICU nurse means blending skill, heart, and vigilance to care for the tiniest lives—and that’s something worth celebrating every day. ...more
Blog
May 09, 2025•2 min read
Discharge From the NICU
Discharge from the NICU isn’t a single moment—it’s a process that begins the day a baby is admitted. While the journey to going home may be winding, every day brings small milestones that lead our lit... ...more
Blog
May 02, 2025•4 min read
HIE Indicators and Cooling Protocol
HIE is a serious diagnosis that carries significant risks, but early identification and intervention with therapeutic hypothermia can significantly improve outcomes. As NICU nurses, we are often the f... ...more
Blog
April 25, 2025•4 min read
Understanding Congenital Diaphragmatic Hernia (CDH)
Congenital Diaphragmatic Hernia (CDH) is a rare and serious condition that demands coordinated care and awareness from the entire NICU team. This week we dive into the types of CDH, how we diagnose it... ...more
Blog
April 18, 2025•2 min read
NRP Review: Part 2
In this post, we continue our NICU nursing education with Part 2 of the NRP Review—intubation, compression, and medications! ...more
Blog
April 12, 2025•3 min read
NRP Review: Part 1
Neonatal resuscitation is one of the most critical skills for NICU nurses 🚼💙. Whether you're a new grad or a seasoned NICU nurse, mastering the basics is non-negotiable! ...more
Blog
April 05, 2025•3 min read
Cerebral Palsy Awareness: Understanding Risk Factors, Diagnosis, and Long-Term Outcomes
Cerebral palsy (CP) is the most common motor disability in childhood, often linked to prematurity, birth complications, or brain injury in the NICU. As NICU nurses, we play a critical role in neuropro... ...more
Blog
April 02, 2025•4 min read
Admissions in the NICU
🚼 NICU Admissions: What You Need to Know! 🚨 📊 DID YOU KNOW? Nearly 10-15% of newborns need NICU care, and we see everything from prematurity to congenital anomalies. ...more
Blog
March 27, 2025•3 min read
Welcome to Lisa's NICU Learning Nest
Let me introduce you to myself and what well learn here. ...more
Blog
March 26, 2025•3 min read