Resident Education in the Division of Neonatal/Perinatal Medicine

1st Year Resident (PL-1) Activities:

The first year Pediatric Resident will typically spend one month in the Newborn Nursery (NBN) and 1-2 months in the Neonatal Intensive Care Unit at Parkland Memorial Hospital (PMH).  PMH is physically connected by hallways to Children's Medical Center.

NBN Rotation

The PL-1 spends one month in the Newborn Nursery, which has over 14,500 admissions each year.  Since over 75% of these babies are cared for by experienced pediatric nurse practitioners, the PL-1 may focus on a small number of patients, yet learn from a large clinical service. 

NICU Rotation

The PL-1 will spend 1-2 months in the neonatal intensive care unit (NICU).  The NICU experience involves care of the premature and term neonates who require a higher level of care than would be found in the Newborn Nursery.  
 
The NICU is subdivided into:

• Intensive Care Nursery (ICN) - for neonates who require the highest level of care (e.g. ventilation, pre and post-op surgery, pressor support, etc.)
• Acute Care Nursery (ACN) - for neonates who are less acutely ill, but require continuous monitoring
• Continuing Care Nursery (CCN) - those post-ICN/ACN babies who are stable, growing, and do not require continuous monitoring
  

2nd Year Resident Activities:

NBN Rotation

Although the PL-2 does not have a formal rotation through the NBN, s/he is sometimes scheduled to provide night-call coverage.  This is an opportunity to refine delivery room skills and newborn assessments.

NICU Rotation

The PL-2 spends one month in the NICU and experiences these activities:

• Maintains a patient care assignment, and is given more responsibility for ICN patients
• Takes call every 4th night as the "Senior Resident" who leads the Resuscitation Team when called to high-risk deliveries
• Opportunities exist to perform procedures (umbilical vessel catheter placement, intubation, and thoracenteses). 
• Provides antenatal consultations to Obstetricians in the Labor and Delivery area
• Serves as a resource for other Pediatric Residents
  

3rd Year Resident Activities:

NBN Rotation

The PL-3 spends two weeks in the NBN, and primarily functions as a teacher and supervisor of the 3rd year medical students who rotate weekly.  The PL-3 takes every 4th night call in the NICU and provides delivery room coverage during the day.  The PL-3 also has the option of learning the technique of Gomco circumcision during this rotation.

NICU Rotation

The PL-3 spends two weeks in the NICU.

Click Here   for the Neonatal-Perinatal NICU Resident Orientation Handbook ("Blue Manual")