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Occupational Therapy and the NICU

            I listened to a webinar about OT and the NICU.  My interest has always been in pediatrics ever since I decided that I wanted to be an occupational therapist.  I have been curious to know what it is like being an OT working in the NICU.  The OT, Samantha Monahan’s presentation on working in the NICU gave a great overview of what OT in the NICU looks like. 

            The role of OT in the NICU is to maximize the occupations of the NICU client.  The environment in the NICU is usually very busy with lots of equipment and people.  The NICU can be very chaotic, noisy, and bright.  The OT can help address some of the issues in the environment to help it be more conducive to the NICU client by trying to mimic the womb.  The client can be preemies, newborns who require medical care, or babies withdrawing from medication.  The family is also a very important part of the clientele.  It is important to allow for attachment and bonding between the baby and the family.  Occupations for NICU babies can include surviving, sleeping, procuring or communicating their needs, feeding, and interacting and bonding with family.  The OT can assess how well the client is performing these occupations through different categories in an OT assessment.  There are different signs used to assess the behavior of a baby, whether it is disorganized or organized behavior so that they can facilitate the baby to display appropriate behaviors.  OT intervention for a NICU client can include positioning through the use of positioning aides and monitoring head shape.  Another important part of an OT’s role is in consultation with the nurses and also family education and advocacy.  It is important to advocate for kangaroo care or skin to skin to help form a bond with the parents as well as regulating the baby’s temperature and respiratory rate.  I found this information very interesting.  There are more aspects involved in OT for the NICU client than I originally had thought.  Advocacy is also a huge part of an OT’s role in the NICU. 

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