Developmentally Supportive Care (DSC)

DSC practices are evidence-based interventions that promote newborn brain and neurobehavioral development. They involve a broad category of interventions designed to minimize the stress of the NICU environment and include elements such as control of external stimuli (auditory, visual, tactile, vestibular), clustering of nursing care activities to avoid disrupting sleep, positioning or swaddling of the preterm infant and calming techniques. The goal is to provide a structured care environment which supports, encourages and guides the developmental organization of the premature and/or critically ill infant.