Developmentally supportive care in the newborn intensive care unit: early intervention in the community

The increased survival rate of infants with complex health care needs means that more infants are at greater risk for developmental delays. The newborn intensive care unit (NICU) is often the first contact many of these babies and families have with the health care system. Nurses are now addressing long-term developmental outcomes for critically ill infants by shifting their practice to provide a developmentally supportive environment to minimize the stress of the NICU environment on the baby and on the family. This article discusses the impact of early brain development research on these practice changes, relationship-based developmentally supportive care in the NICU, and the process of successful transitions from the hospital to home and community with early intervention resources.