Brain-Oriented Care in the NICU: A Case Study

With the advances of technology and treatment in the field of neonatal care, researchers can now study how the brains of preterm infants are different from full-term infants. the differences are significant, and the outcomes are poor overall for premature infants as a whole. Caregivers at the bedside must know that every interaction with the preterm infant affects brain development—it is critical to the developmental outcome of the infant. the idea of neuroprotection is not new to the medical field but is a fairly new idea to the NICU. neuroprotection encompasses all interventions that promote normal development of the brain. the concept of brain-oriented care is a necessary extension of developmental care in the NICU. By following the journey of 26-week preterm twin infants through a case study, one can better understand the necessity of brain-oriented care at the bedside.