Neonatal Intensive Care Unit (NICU)

Board-certified neonatologists and specialized NICU nurses provide around-the-clock care, managing complex conditions such as neonatal abstinence syndrome, jaundice and genetic disorders in newborns.

The NICUs are equipped with non-invasive oxygen support, ventilators, and a respiratory therapy team for support. Additionally, the NICUs at Joseph M. Sanzari Children’s Hospital and K. Hovnanian Children’s Hospital have higher levels of respiratory support, such as high-frequency oscillators, CPAP (continuous positive airway pressure) and mechanical ventilation. Surfactant administration is also available for infants with underdeveloped lungs.

NICU-dedicated dietitians ensure babies receive the proper nutrition to support growth and development. This includes total parenteral nutrition (TPN), when needed. Speech-language pathologists also provide feeding support and expertise.

Parents are encouraged to participate in their baby's care through kangaroo care (skin-to-skin contact), bedside education and lactation support available 24/7. Pain and medication management are also tailored to each baby’s needs.

Joseph M. Sanzari Children’s Hospital and K. Hovnanian Children's Hospital offer neonatal surgical services, providing expert care for conditions such as gastroschisis, congenital diaphragmatic hernia, neural tube defects, and complications from NEC or other life-threatening illnesses.

Families can stay connected with their babies even when outside the hospital. Many of our NICUs provide access to a secure, live-streaming camera system, ensuring parents can check in on their newborns from anywhere.

Thanks to a generous partnership with March of Dimes, the NICUs at Joseph M. Sanzari Children’s Hospital and K. Hovnanian Children's Hospital offer a NICU Family Support® Program, providing educational resources, caregiver training and emotional support for families. A dedicated NICU family support coordinator is on-site to help families navigate the NICU experience.

At K. Hovnanian Children’s Hospital, families also benefit from:

• A NICU-dedicated social worker trained in prenatal, peripartum and postpartum family evaluation and support to assist parents through every stage of their NICU journey.
• A specialized pediatric advanced care team (PACT) to help families cope with unanticipated congenital conditions, preterm birth, and the transition home.
• Ongoing care coordination for families whose children have long-term needs, including monitoring for complications like ROP (retinopathy of prematurity) and supporting access to follow-up eye exams,
• hearing screening, genetic screening, and metabolic screening. The PACT coordinator provides long-term support, following them throughout childhood and during any future hospital stays.

Some of our NICUs provide long-term support, including a specialized follow-up program with pediatric specialists who track development and provide additional care, as needed. This may include access to advanced diagnostics such as neonatal echocardiograms, cranial ultrasounds, EEGs (neonatal electroencephalograms), or MRI for newborns, as well as continuous apnea/vital signs monitoring.

Our hospitals and NICUs have earned national recognition, demonstrating our commitment to providing the highest quality neonatal care:

• Joseph M. Sanzari Children’s Hospital’s NICU is the first NICU in New Jersey to receive Disease-Specific Certification for Prematurity from The Joint Commission, recognizing excellence in the care of premature infants. The NICU’s Small Baby Unit is dedicated to improving survival and long-term outcomes for infants born before 30 weeks gestation.
• Joseph M. Sanzari Children’s Hospital's NICU is the first in the nation to receive Advanced Perinatal Care Certification from The Joint Commission.
• The NICU at K. Hovnanian Children's Hospital received the Gold Beacon Award for Excellence from the American Association of Critical-Care Nurses – one of the highest distinctions for nursing care.
• Joseph M. Sanzari Children's Hospital and K. Hovnanian Children's Hospital are home to the NICU Reach Out and Read program, supporting early childhood literacy for NICU graduates.
• Both Joseph M. Sanzari Children's Hospital, K. Hovnanian Children's Hospital, and JFK University Medical Center have earned Magnet® designation for nursing excellence.

All of our NICUs are part of the Hackensack Meridian Children’s Health network, ensuring that babies who need a higher level of care can be quickly and safely transferred within our system. Our hospitals offer different NICU levels, ranging from Level II (for babies born at 32 weeks or later who need additional support) to Level IV (for critically ill newborns requiring advanced care). If a baby requires transport from a lower-level NICU to a higher-level facility, our NICU-dedicated transport teams – including a neonatal nurse, respiratory therapist and provider – accompany the baby, ensuring continuity of care.

Our NICUs go beyond medical care – they provide comprehensive support for families navigating the NICU journey, including:

• Dedicated NICU social workers who help families access resources and emotional support.
• The March of Dimes NICU Family Support Program provides education and social connections for families.
• NICU Family Advisory Councils at select locations connect current NICU families with past NICU graduates for peer support.
• The Beads of Courage program provides families with tangible symbols of their baby’s strength and milestones throughout the NICU journey.
• The OB Well Program provides maternal mental health services and support.