Special care nursery

Team Composition

Throughout your experience, you may be supported by:

• Nurse Unit Manager who is in in charge of the unit
• Associate Nurse Unit Manager who organises each shift within the unit
• Clinical Nurse Specialist who is an expert in their field
• registered nurses, midwives and mothercraft nurses who specialise in caring for premature and sick newborn babies
• care manager, who organises resources and support services for babies with more complex needs
• consultant/neonatologist/paediatrician: this is a senior doctor with special qualifications and advanced training in caring for newborn babies
• registrars, who are qualified doctors who are training to become paediatricians. There is at least one consultant in the unit 24 hours a day
• interpreter, who can translate information for families whose second language is English
• lactation consultant, who can give you breastfeeding advice, support and assistance
• dietitian, who can help your baby get the calories and additives they need to grow
• ophthalmologist: this is a doctor who specialises in diagnosing and treating eye problems
• pastoral carer, who offers spiritual and emotional support. Pastoral carers can offer prayer, blessings or the sacramental ministry of baptism when it is requested for a baby. Our carers offer support to all parents, no matter what their religious or cultural beliefs
• physiotherapist who assesses and creates programs for babies with developmental difficulties. They can also help with movement or muscle tone problems. Physiotherapists can teach parents about baby massage and handling their baby
• speech therapist, who can help assess and treat babies who have problems feeding and swallowing
• social worker, who can help parents with practical problems and give them emotional support while their baby is in the nursery
• ward clerk, who looks after the administrative aspects of the nursery
• clinical nurse educator: as Werribee Mercy Hospital is a teaching hospital, they educate all staff in the nursery to ensure safe and effective, high-quality care.

Opportunities to be involved in research

We participate in research projects. You can find more information on these projects in the nursery, and how they can benefit other babies, mothers and families. Your participation in research is optional.