Course Description:

Prematurity is a serious public health concern currently affecting 1 in 9 infants in the United States. Therapists serve a crucial role in Neonatal Intensive Care Unit (NICU) interventions to assist parents in handling techniques, calming strategies, general developmental care and offer parent education, with a ubiquitous goal of promoting the best possible outcome.

Given their strong educational foundation in neuro development and neonatal care, therapists are uniquely qualified to assume this role, but often may feel ill-equipped about venturing into such a high-risk setting. This 2-hour course is designed to ameliorate those concerns by offering a very thorough perspective of how to address all the multifaceted confounding factors in the NICU setting, from pain management to positioning. Therapists will gain a deeper understanding of the medical complexities and neurodevelopment care, as well as learn the interplay between nurture, nature, and the premature sensory system.