he NICU to Home Readiness Program is a specialized transition plan designed to support premature or medically fragile infants and their families as they prepare to leave the Neonatal Intensive Care Unit (NICU) and continue care at home. This program focuses on ensuring that both the infant’s medical needs and the family’s emotional, practical, and caregiving needs are addressed to facilitate a safe and confident discharge process.
Key components of the NICU to Home Readiness Program include parent education on feeding, medication administration, infant CPR, and recognizing signs of distress or illness. It also involves training in the use of medical equipment if needed (such as oxygen or feeding tubes), establishing follow-up care plans with pediatricians and specialists, and coordinating early intervention services if developmental support is required. Emotional and psychological support for families is also a crucial part of the program, helping them cope with the stress of caring for a high-risk newborn.