In Their Own Words: National Nurses Week

At ProgenyHealth, nurses make a difference each and every day. From providing education and support to connecting mothers and infants with the critical resources they need, our nursing professionals are positively impacting maternal and infant health outcomes and improving lives. In honor of National Nurses Week, we extend a heartfelt “thank you” to these healthcare heroes and are honored to share their voices throughout the week.

?What does National Nurses Week mean to you?

• “National Nurses Week means to me the celebration and acknowledgment of all the hard work nurses do to impact the lives of our patients and families daily.” – Kristine Ditzler RN, BSN, CCN
• “Aside from free Dunkin’ Donuts, it’s a time to acknowledge and honor the contributions to society made by those in the nursing profession.” – Lorraine Gallo, BSN, RNC-OB, C-ONQS, IBCLC, CCM
• “This is a week to smile and look back on all the differences I have made for my babies and families. It’s a week to be proud of my accomplishments.” – Kimberly Mills, RN, BSN

What is the best part of being a nurse?

• ?“Getting to help others.” – Kaitlyn Akers, RN BSN
• “The best part of being a nurse is being able to give comfort and healing to someone in need. Sometimes the comfort and healing is physical, like administering needed medication to help a medical condition or changing a dressing on a wound.?Other times it is emotional comfort and healing in the form of listening to patients/families, accepting them where they are at and responding in a way that makes them feel heard. ?With infants, it can be the satisfaction of seeing a baby in your care sleep peacefully after a feeding amidst the NICU chaos. For me, being a part of bringing others comfort and healing is one of the best things about being a nurse.”?– Cindy Fochtmann, RN
• “For me, the best part of being a nurse is knowing that I have the skills and knowledge to support people as they become new parents.” – Lorraine Gallo, BSN, RNC-OB, C-ONQS, IBCLC, CCM
• “For me, one of the joys of nursing springs from the ripple effects. For each individual, how may my decision-making, my words and my actions positively impact change in that moment -- and thereafter in ways unknown.” – Kim Van Maren, MBA, BSN, RN
• “Being a nurse has created the feeling of appreciation and the ability to make a difference in individuals lives that are in need. It gives you the ability to form a unique bond with your patients and families at a very personal level.” – Kimberly Mills, RN, BSN

?Why did you become a nurse and how does ProgenyHealth help you in fulfilling that purpose?

• “I wanted to be able to help keep children healthy or help restore them to health. ProgenyHealth helps me expand on and continue to work on this goal from the tiny to the toddler children.” – ?Maureen Miller RN, BSN, CCM
• “My grandfather always said, ‘You need a marketable skill to get by in life.’ I wanted a marketable skill that resonated with me as a person. I’m passionate about supporting and advocating for people at times they are vulnerable; particularly the maternal child population.?As a case management supervisor for our maternity program here at ProgenyHealth, I’m able to use my clinical skills to provide support and guidance to our case managers while they grow in their roles. In turn, our case management nurses work with our social workers to support our members making a difference for two generations of families as they navigate parenthood.” – Lorraine Gallo, BSN, RNC-OB, C-ONQS, IBCLC, CCM

What is one thing most people might not know about nurses?

• “When I tell people I am a NICU nurse, there are a lot of people that have no idea what NICU means, unless they have personally experienced it themselves or with a loved one.” – Kimberly Mills, RN, BSN

How has the field of nursing changed since you entered the profession?

• “The field has advanced in medical practices in a way that enhances the viability, life expectancy and quality of life in our little babies.?Some of the many advancing practices over the years include: surfactant administration, initiation of the Body Cooling protocol and all our advancements with an increased awareness of providing breastmilk for our NICU population, leading to improved outcomes.” – Kimberly Mills, RN, BSN
• “With advancements in patient care and technology, nurses have become more specialized. The old saying was, ‘A nurse is a nurse is a nurse.’ These days we know that isn’t accurate. One nurse is a maternity nurse. Another nurse is a NICU nurse. And yet another is a hospice nurse, and so on.?Each nursing specialty comes with a set of skills and training. Here at ProgenyHealth we have nurses with a wide set of skills that complement one another and enable us to make a difference.” – ?Lorraine Gallo, BSN, RNC-OB, C-ONQS, IBCLC, CCM