Neonatal Intensive Care Unit (NICU)

Providence Children’s Hospital has earned Level IV NICU designation – the highest NICU designation that can be achieved!

At The Hospitals of Providence, you can take comfort in knowing that our hospitals are here to care for premature and critically ill babies. Providence Children’s Hospital is the first hospital in El Paso to be designated by the Texas Department of State Health Services (DSHS) as a level IV NICU, the highest level of care available for premature and critically-ill newborns. The Providence Children’s Hospital NICU is equipped to care for a wide range of illnesses and conditions, including prematurity, infection, respiratory distress, complex birth defects, and is fully prepared to perform surgery when needed.

Our East Campus has earned a Level III NICU designation and our Transmountain Campus offers a Continuing Care Nursery under the supervision of a Neonatologist. Our NICUs are equipped with a team of experts including Neonatologists, Neonatal Nurses and Respiratory Therapists who are available around the clock to provide care. Babies that need to go to the NICU are usually admitted within the first 24 hours after their birth, typically because they are born prematurely, show signs of a complication in the first few days of life or have difficulty during their delivery.

Through the help of our Neonatal Emergency Transport Team (NETT) that is available 24/7, we’re able to help infants born elsewhere get the care they need. This specialized team consists of neonatal registered nurses and respiratory therapists who transport seriously ill newborns that require our specialized services from other hospitals.

Helpful links:

American Pregnancy Association

A national organization committed to promoting reproductive and pregnancy wellness through education, research, advocacy, and community awareness.

Visit the American Pregnancy Association Website

Healthy Children

An independent pediatric forum’s overview of the various staff members you may encounter in an NICU department

Visit the Healthy Children Website

March of Dimes

Leading nonprofit organization for pregnancy and baby health

Visit the March of Dimes website

NICU Nurses Cared for My Baby


- Gabriela, NICU Mom