Neonatal intensive care unit social work: program considerations.

Social workers in neonatal intensive care units provide psychosocial services to families of critically ill newborn infants, and often provide support to staff as well. Staffing patterns for these professionals vary significantly, and not infrequently are based on subjective criteria. Staff from 67 hospitals were surveyed to determine perceptions about the appropriate number of social work staff members necessary to provide for adequate service, and the functions staff attributed to the role of the social worker. Responses of social workers, head nurses, and medical directors in neonatal intensive care units and hospital social work directors were compared on a variety of issues related to social work services in neonatal intensive care units.