The Special Care Nursery (SCN) provides acute-to-intermediate care to a variety of compromised infants (extremely low birth weight, premature congenital anomalies, drug addicted, etc.).  Intermediate care is a continuation of recovery from the acute phase of neonatal illness.

The SCN has been designated by the Louisiana Department of Health and Hospitals as a Level III NICU.  Neonatal Nurse Practitioners staff the unit 24 hours a day.  The patient capacity is 23 including one isolation patient.    A specially-trained transport team services the unit 24 hours a day. 

The NICU staff consists of RNs, Nurse Practitioners and Unit Techs.  The RNs are required to have current NRP certification.  They attend all Cesarean sections and all high-risk deliveries.  NANN and/or CCRN certification is encouraged.  The Neonatal Nurse Practitioner (NNP) and other RN members of the Transport Team have advanced transport training.  The NNPs are both NRP and PALS certified.