WDH 2020-2021 Nursing Report - Flipbook - Page 12
Transformational Leadership
Neonatal Nursery
Nicole Pendenza, BSN, RNC-NIC
APRN Leadership
Structure
Assistant Vice President, Women and Children’s
On October 1, 2021 the Women’s and Children’s Service Line at
WDH became the first on the Seacoast to open a Level IIB NICU.
The NICU now has the capability of caring for infants that are
born at 32 weeks and above. This unique model of care allows
us to care for high-risk infants in rooms with their parents to
decrease any separation at birth. The NICU can care for infants
needing increased respiratory support (24 hours of ventilation,
CPAP or Oxygen), infants needing additional nutritional support
and other services. The neonatology provider team at Mass
General for Children supports the NICU with 24/7 in house
coverage to care for all infants born on Women’s and Children’s.
This 24/7 NICU coverage is provided by Neonatal/Pediatric Nurse
Practitioners. The team is comprised of 6 nurse practitioners
that are available in house for all neonatal care. These providers
are specially trained in caring for critically ill infants. This model
allows us to provide continued care to this vulnerable patient
population. The NICU has added a strong nursing leadership
team to include a nurse manager, two CPL’s and a Clinical
Nurse Specialist. This team has helped support and educate
the nursing and support staff that are needed to care for this
patient population. This program allows our most vulnerable
patient population to receive high quality care right here in their
own community without having to be transfer to a tertiary care
center. The addition of the NICU to our service line will help with
growth of the service line and support our vision to become the
regional hub for Women’s and Children’s services on the Seacoast.
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Wentworth-Douglass Hospital
Over 100 advanced practice nurses (APRNs)
provide primary and specialty care
throughout the WDH system. With the
growing size and complexity of our patient
population, it is more important than ever
to ensure our APRNs have the resources
they need to provide optimal care.
Chief Nursing Officer and Vice President of
Patient Care Services, Sheila Woolley, BSN,
MPH, RN, recognizes the unique needs and
challenges or our APRNs. In May 2021, she
hosted two discussion groups, bringing
together APRNs from practices throughout
the system. Overwhelmingly, they expressed
a desire to connect with other APRNs to
discuss practice issues. In addition, with
variable onboarding experiences, they
desire greater mentorship and support.
An evidence-based transition to practice
program is needed and the first step is to
establish program leadership. Sheila’s team
researched successful structures at Mass
General Brigham and Emory Healthcare
and reviewed a variety of job descriptions.
Using this information, Sheila collaborated
with Dr. Nancy Pettinari, Chief Medical
Officer for Wentworth Health Partners,
to create the position of Lead APRN for
those working in the primary and specialty
care practices. Accepting this role, Kathy
Wadleigh, APRN serves as a liaison between
the APRNs and leadership. Her goals for the
coming year include establishing an APRN
council and developing a comprehensive
transition to practice program.
Kathy joins Molly Steele, Lead Nurse
Midwife, and Anna Goodkin, Lead
Registered Nurse Anesthetist.