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a specialTy puBlicaTion of The richmond-Times dispaTch

miracle workers
PICU and NICU nurses breathe new life into critical care roles

The Miracle of Life. The phrase refers to childbirth, that big moment
when parents submit to the painstaking journey for one sweet, highly-anticipated reward: the triumphant cry of a newborn son or daughter. But on many delivery tables, that health-affirming holler goes unheard.
by joanna ernst

a specialTy puBlicaTion of The richmond-Times dispaTch

sunday, may 6, 2012 | 11

liz smith, right, picu nurse manager with 6-month-old Hannah Weddle and parents, David and Elizabeth Weddle.

When complications occur during childbirth, the medical pros have to abandon the usual protocol because the life at stake is not yet hardy and robust. Instead, the fragile infants especially the premature babies are underdeveloped and require extensive critical care to survive and strengthen immature organs. This is where the miracle of life is not realized in the delivery room but instead within the neonatal intensive care unit, or the NICU, of the hospital. Together with the PICU, short for pediatric intensive care unit, these hospital areas require a specialized treatment approach where meticulous skill mingles with nothing short of a whole lot of heart to make the real miracles happen. Having my first baby was scary enough, Glen Allen resident Emily

Driscoll-Hardstock confided. Having my special-needs son rushed into a major surgery made it much more intense. On May 18, 2011, in the 32nd week of her pregnancy, Driscoll-Hardstock gave birth to Harrison William Hardstock, a big-blue-eyed beauty weighing in at a very tiny 3 pounds and 4 ounces, which rapidly plummeted to 2 pounds, 7 ounces. Premature babies, born before the 37th week of pregnancy, are the product of between eight and 10 percent of all the pregnancies in the U.S. So a NICU nurse plays a vital role in the treatment and rehabilitation of nearly one in every 10 newborns. And this does not even scratch the surface of the spectrum of full-term neonatal and pediatric patients, with complicated cases ranging from pediatric cancer to congenital defects, injuries during

12 | sunday, may 6, 2012

a specialty publication of the richmond-times dispatch

birth (such as oxygen deprivation) to hereditary disorders and so forth. Ive been a nurse for 15 years and was always driven to do pediatrics, said Liz Smith, nursing manager of the PICU and the progressive care unit and child life services at Childrens Hospital of Richmond at VCU. My mom was a pediatric nurse, and I had experience with oncology, cardiology and the emergency department, which gave me direct exposure to pediatrics. It highlighted how much I wanted to be there: I love taking care of the kids and their families.

at birth, harrison harstock weighed just 3 pounds, 4 ounces.

Smith emphasized that pediatric nursing is satisfying because of the daily interaction with the children and their families. During this highstress lets face it nightmarish time, the nurses in the NICU and PICU not only nurse the needs of ailing newborns but also support the anxiety-ridden parents of these struggling babies. The NICU and PICU nurses are extremely special, in a class of their own, praised DriscollHardstock. They arent just treating these small creatures; they treat the whole family. It takes so much physically and emotionally to have that level

of compassion and sensitivity. Their patients cant talk to them and communicate their needs; subtle differences on the charts can mean a fatal outcome. But for the nurses of the neonatal and pediatric ICUs, its all in a days work. I am more satisfied in this job than Ive ever been before, Smith affirmed. It sounds cheesy, but it really is the job of my dreams. Seeing the kids and the families every day has a huge impact on me and the whole staff. Smith also added that, because families drive from near and far to seek medical attention at the Childrens

Hospital of Richmond at VCU, the nurses provide a great deal of comfort to these estranged out-of-towners. Even locally, most nurses enthusiastically expand their roles to open the line of communication, extending much-needed hope and consolation to families during their time of need. There were a lot of nurses who really went the extra mile to connect with us and with Harrison on a more personal level, said Dustin Hardstock, Harrisons father. When we called for an update or came for a visit, they were really awesome about telling us everything that had been going

Dustin and Emily Hardstock are planning miracle baby Harrisons 1-year birthday bash in May.

the nicu and picu nurses are extremely special, in a class of their own

emily driscoll-hardstock

a specialty publication of the richmond-times dispatch

sunday, may 6, 2012 | 13

Great gifts for the nurse in your life

If theres one surefire secret to success for choosing a gift for the nurse in your life, its this: Think pampering. Nurses spend nearly all of their working life on their feet, bending, lifting, twisting and turning and all in service of others. Here are some easy gift solutions that are sure to be appreciated. spa services: Give the gift of relaxation and rejuvenation. Pampering products: Take a gift basket, head to your local drug store or grocery chain and fill it with an array of soothing and beautifying products. The gift of time: Think about showering her or him with a day or even a weekend of nothingness. Clear the calendar. Turn off the phone. Take over the cooking, cleaning, grocery shopping and errands. Hobby basket: For crafters, a set of new supplies might rekindle a lost interest, while for the nurse who loves to get lost in a good book, a selection of new magazines or books by a favorite author can spark a renewed interest in reading. Homemade coupon book: Fill with offers for a romantic evening out, weekend laundry service, a night off from doing the dishes or a car wash/car cleaning. Happy feet: The most practical gift could be a new pair of super-comfortable, ultra-supportive work shoes or some snazzy new scrubs. nice necessities: Shopping for a recent nursing school graduate? You cant go wrong with a gift certificate to a medical supply retailer or items such as an easyto-read watch with a second hand, a roomy, insulated lunch bag and water bottle.
metro creative connection

harrison hardstock spent his first 3 days of life in the nicu.

on with him and reassuring us about what was normal. But it was more than that, too, Hardstock continued. They helped us personalize Harrisons area in the NICU; they connected us with the March of Dimes folks and included us in the annual reunion they have for NICU babies. They make a real effort to downplay the critical nature of the care and instead, they focus on the positive aspects of the special treatment, the progress thats made. When you give birth and leave the hospital, youre supposed to take the baby with you, Driscoll-Hardstock added. The nurses were especially helpful because they never made me feel like a stranger was taking care of my baby. I was able to be there for all his important firsts: feeding, diaper,

bath. They went above and beyond to help Har Bear and us; they still do. After spending his first 31 days in the NICU, baby Harrison went home. About to turn 1 year old, the baby is healthy overall, despite his still-petite size. Were getting our moneys worth out of all his clothes, Driscoll-Hardstock said, erupting in laughter. The Hardstocks can now fully celebrate their miracle of life, thanks in no small part to the nurses who cared for their once two-pound son. Every day I feel were making a difference, said Smith. My favorite part of the job is absolutely the patients. If Im having a really challenging day, Ill go visit the kids, and they without fail bring a smile to my face.