Level I NICU care overview
The Level I neonatal intensive care unit (NICU), often called a well-newborn nursery, provides basic care for healthy term infants and stable late-preterm babies. These units are designed for routine assessment, monitoring, and postnatal care, supporting the majority of newborns who do not require intensive medical intervention.
On Nursa’s marketplace, understanding the Level I NICU designation helps clinicians identify entry-level newborn-care roles and enables facilities to communicate their capabilities for well-baby care and initial stabilization.
What defines Level I NICU care
Level I NICU care focuses on infants born at ≥ 35 weeks’ gestation who are physiologically stable and show no signs of significant illness. These nurseries are not designed for advanced interventions or ongoing management of medical complications but can briefly stabilize newborns awaiting transfer to higher-level care when needed.
Key capabilities of Level I NICUs
- Neonatal resuscitation available at every delivery
- Routine postnatal care, assessments, and screenings for healthy newborns
- Monitoring and support for late-preterm infants (35–37 weeks) who are stable
- Basic care for uncomplicated conditions (e.g., mild jaundice, feeding support, phototherapy if needed)
- Initial stabilization and preparation of infants who require transfer to higher-level NICU care for illness or premature birth
- Support for rooming-in and promoting breastfeeding and parental education
Most newborns will remain in a Level I NICU setting unless complications arise.
Clinician experience in Level I NICUs
Clinicians in Level I NICUs—nurses, pediatricians, nurse practitioners, and family physicians—focus on observation, prevention, and family education. The environment is structured around safe newborn transitions, with an emphasis on mother-infant bonding and rapid identification of potential health issues.
For many professionals, Level I NICU units provide strong foundational experience in routine newborn care, resuscitation protocols, and early intervention.
How facilities operate Level I NICUs
Level I NICUs are staffed by providers experienced in newborn assessment and perinatal care. These nurseries maintain strict protocols for screening, safety, and infection prevention and are equipped for basic stabilization and emergency response.
Facility operations and staffing
- Timely newborn exams, documentation, and vaccination
- Guidance for feeding, safe sleep, and parent education
- Short-term observation for infants with mild risk factors or conditions
- Access to higher-level NICUs through established transfer protocols
- Flexible scheduling and credentialing to support variable delivery volumes and census
Facilities use Level I NICU nurseries to efficiently manage healthy newborn discharges and promote positive postnatal outcomes.
Advancing newborn care with Level I NICUs
Level I NICUs play a vital role in supporting families and communities by ensuring the well-being of healthy newborns. Clinicians develop broad competency in infant assessment and prevention, while facilities uphold high standards in routine neonatal care.
On Nursa, nurses and healthcare organizations can identify Level I NICU care experience or capabilities, making it easy to match professionals and settings in general newborn care environments.
