Oct 29 2024 35 mins
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"Being both a NICU nurse and a mom transformed how I view and support each child and family I work with."
In this episode host Katie Taylor speaks with a NICU nurse and mother, Brittney, who shares her unique perspective on navigating the healthcare system from both sides; a NICU nurse and NICU mama. Brittany reflects on her journey as a NICU nurse who then became a NICU mom of twins, describing how her experiences inspired her to write a NICU-themed children's book and launch a publishing company. Her story highlights the emotional, mental, and logistical challenges of parenting in a NICU environment and how she uses her experiences to support families facing similar journeys.
Key Insights and Lessons:
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Value of Empathy and Shared Experience: Brittney's journey as a NICU mom brought a new level of empathy to her work, allowing her to connect deeply with the parents she now supports.
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Empowering NICU Parents: Brittney emphasizes the importance of empowering parents with hands-on involvement, helping them gain confidence in their caregiving roles despite medical complexities.
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Advocating for Comfort in the NICU: Encouraging parents to bring personal items, create a nurturing space, and advocate for their emotional needs helps make the NICU environment feel more like home.
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Navigating the Unknowns of NICU Life: For Brittney, the hardest part of the NICU experience was the slow, unpredictable progress toward discharge, which she now prepares her patients’ families for, emphasizing resilience and patience.
Resources and Tips:
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Find Brittney's resources at Thrift Publication Company. This includes:
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Her childrens book “Cradles of Courage: Adventures in the NICU” in both pink and blue
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A NICU journal, “The Journal of Our Story: A Medical Notebook for the Organized NICU Parent.” which is designed to help parents track progress and milestones
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Brittney's Instagram for updates and NICU-related content: @thriftpubco
When parents feel empowered, everyone wins – kids thrive and the care team excels!
Learn more here.
Meet the host:
Katie Taylor is the co-founder and CEO of Child Life On Call, a digital platform designed to provide parents, kids, and the care team with access to child life services tools and resources. She is a certified child life specialist with over 13 years of experience working in various pediatric healthcare settings. Katie is the author of the children's book, and has presented on the topics of child life and entrepreneurship, psychosocial care in the hospital, and supporting caregivers in the NICU setting both nationally and internationally. She is also the host of the Child Life On Call Podcast which features interviews with parents discussing their experiences throughout their child's medical journey. The podcast emphasizes the crucial role of child life services in enabling caregivers both at and beyond the bedside.