NICU - Neonatal Intensive Care Unit

1. NICU- Neonatal Intensive Care Unit

2. What is NICU? • A volunteer program, that allows pre-vet students to work in the foal ICU at the vet school. • You may be allowed to perform treatments including: • milking mares • feeding foals • giving medications • monitoring vitals You will not be asked to do anything you are not comfortable with. • There will always be a vet med student in the ICU with you. • No large animal experience is required. • This is a great learning experience and a great chance to get involved!

3. When is NICU? • The spring semester when foals are being born! • Shifts: • Monday - Friday • 5pm-10pm • 10pm-3am • 3am-7am • Saturday & Sunday • 7:30am-1pm • 1pm-5pm • You will usually be scheduled once every 3-4 weeks depending on the number of volunteers. • You will NOT go unless you are called in before your shift. • WHEN you are called in, you MUST go for your shift!

4. When do I go in? • ONLY if you are called. • We will NOT call you after 9pm, even if foals arrive in the ICU later. • Until 9pm the day of your shift you are on-call that day. • On weekends: • Saturday volunteers will be called on Friday night. • Sunday volunteers will be called Saturday morning or afternoon.

5. What if I can’t make my shift? • We send the entire semester schedule out as soon as everyone is signed up. Please be sure to check your schedule frequently and arrange for someone to switch with, if you have a conflict. • Do NOT go for your shift if you are sick. • Switch your scheduled shift ahead of time if possible or if you haven’t switched and are called in, let us know ASAP! • Switch shifts with another person (you won’t lose a shift this way) • Find an alternate to cover your shift (there is an alternate list) • You can e-mail all of the NICU volunteers at nicu@iastate.edu or look at the list of volunteers to find a specific contact. • When you find someone to cover your shift, you must email Emily AND Lindsey know (so we can call in the right person). • (emsmith@iastate.edu and equine5@iastate.edu) • We won’t handle finding someone to cover your shift. • If you don’t show up to your shift when you are expected, you will be removed from the volunteer program immediately.

6. When you get called in: • Contact your scheduled partner to arrange transportation to the vet school. • Wear clothes you don’t mind getting dirty! • Get there on time! • If you have a shift from 7am-10pm, go to the Equine front desk and they will guide you to the NICU. • If you have a shift from 10pm-7am, call 515-294-6207 or go to the Small Animal Door and ring the ICU bell. A student will come to let you in. Ask the vet students questions. Be respectful and listen carefully to them. Don’t do anything you’re not comfortable doing.

7. Directions to Vet Med • CyRide will not run during all of the shifts, so you will need to have a ride. • If you don’t have a car, note that when you sign up and we will pair you with someone who does! • Directions: • Going south on University Blvd., take a left onto 16th St. and take a right into the second driveway to the vet school. • Park in the lot by the entrance to the large animal hospital in the client parking

8. Reminders • Do NOT go to your shift if you are sick. • Wear clothes and shoes you don’t mind getting dirty. • If you fail to show up for a shift that you have been called in for, you will be removed from the volunteer list. • If you cannot make it to your shift you MUST contact someone to cover your shift, then you must contact Emily AND Lindsey AND your partner to let them know that you have switched.

9. Questions? Thanks for being patient & listening!! It’s all for them..