If your baby requires nursing care at home, you will have a "home care" nurse. He/she visits your baby for short periods daily or weekly in order to provide treatments like injections, tube feedings or suctioning. They teach you how to provide these treatments so you can do them on your own.
The home care nurse may take care of your baby for a 4, 8 or 12 hour period. This is called a "shift". The nurse will care for your baby entirely, relieving you of this responsibility.
Your baby may need many hours of professional nursing care each week. Other babies who are not as ill, may require only a few hours or one or two "shifts" each week.
Discuss with each nurse the exact type of care your baby needs. If you are fortunate, the same nurse or nurses will come each time so that you, your baby, and the nurse(s) know each other.
Home care nurses know a lot about babies and can help you make decisions about your baby's health.
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