Is it a HIPAA violation to skype or record a patient in the neonatal intensive care unit

Who is doing it? If it's someone not on the staff of the hospital, no. It's between the two private parties.

100% yes if the person is a caregiver and not a parent or visitor.

Depends on who they are. Please elaborate.

Only members of the medical profession can violate HIPAA so it depends on who is doing the recording.

I would find it hard to believe a doctor or nurse would do this.
1,Did patient give permission.

2. If Skype, who is the other person watching, is it done so another medical professional can consult?

3. If recorded why, is it being recorded for medical study, was there something strange about what was happening?

Who is doing it.

As noted, you don't give us enough info to advise. You have to explain who was doing the recording, the relationship to the patient and why.

Since you mention neonatal unit, I assume it was an infant being recorded. The infant can't give permission. If the idea was to allow relatives to see the newborn and the parents did the recording, it shouldn't be an issue. But if the parents did not give permission or another child was shown it could be a problem. So please elaborate.