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Meet the NICU Team

Care at Morristown Memorial Hospital’s and Overlook Hospital's Neonatal Intensive Care Units (NICU) is provided by a multidisciplinary team including board-certified neonatologists, neonatal nurse practitioners and physician assistants, neonatal nurses, respiratory therapists, physical therapists, infant feeding specialist, social workers, care managers and lactation consultants.

Neonatologist

The neonatologist is a pediatrician that has specialized training in the care of the premature or critically ill infants. The neonatologist is responsible for and directs all care of the newborn during their stay in the NICU.

Advanced Practice Nurses

The advanced practice nurse is a masters’ prepared nurse with specialized training in neonatal care. They provide direct clinical care under the direction of the neonatologist.

Registered Nurse

Nurses in the NICU receive specialized training to care for premature and critically ill newborns. They provide high quality nursing care that is developmentally supportive 24 hours a day. Many of our nurses have successfully attained certification in neonatal intensive care nursing.

Respiratory Therapist

Respiratory care practitioners are licensed professionals that evaluate, treat and care for newborns with breathing disorders or those infants who require temporary respiratory support. They administer and monitor oxygen therapy, breathing treatments, ventilator care and bedside laboratory testing. They are present in the NICU 24 hours a day and are an integral part of the team within the unit, in the delivery room and when out on transport.

Physical Therapist

The physical therapists in the NICU have specialized training and experience dealing with our specific patient population. They provide developmental evaluation and treatment of the premature and/or medically complex infant.

Feeding Specialist/Speech Language Pathologist

The feeding specialist in the NICU is a trained speech-language pathologist who specializes in feeding and swallowing issues in preterm infants. The feeding specialist is available to assist staff and parents with the assessment and promotion of the infant’s readiness for oral feeding, including evaluation on bottle and breastfeeding ability.

Social Worker

The social worker in the NICU is a professionally-trained member of the health care team who assists families in coping with non-medical problems and issues related to the baby’s illness and hospitalization. The social worker provides support and counseling to help parents adjust to their baby's NICU admission, address social and emotional concerns, and plan appropriately for the baby’s discharge. Additionally, the social worker acts as a family advocate in coordinating hospital services and procuring benefits and referral services. The social worker, along with all the members of the health care team, works to provide comprehensive services for all the NICU patients/families.

Care Manager

The care manager is a registered nurse who works closely with the patient family and health care team in the NICU to provide a smooth and effective delivery of care throughout the inpatient stay. The care manager also assists with getting the hospital stay certified with the insurance company. Another important aspect of the care manager's role is discharge planning, which considers the patient's needs after the hospital stay and may involve several different services such as visiting/private duty nursing care, physical therapy or home medical equipment. The care manager can assist with determining coverage and obtaining necessary equipment/supplies for a safe and effective discharge home.

Lactation Consultant

A lactation consultant has specialized training in the practice of breastfeeding. A lactation consultant is available in the NICU to help you start breastfeeding and answer any questions you may have.