Christine Clark BSN RN
Director of Hospital Services
Powers Device Technologies, Inc.
I am thrilled to have this opportunity. I have been a NICU nurse for 20 years and my hope is to create an open forum for NICU professionals and parents – to share experiences, ask questions, help, support, and even share a laugh.
I just recently returned from NANN in Orlando. It was a wonderful event. There I was, surrounded by my people (or as my teenagers would say, my “peeps”) my NICU sisters and brothers who could speak fluent “preemie”, who could visualize a “good” vein in 20 seconds or less, champions in the sport of competitive feeding and, most important, those individuals who have dedicated their professional lives to caring for this very special population. And, you know what?? . . . I panicked . . . What was I doing on this side of the booth? I have been wearing scrubs for the past 20 years. I am not supposed to be in big girl clothes . . Let alone HEELS! And then, I talked and talked and talked to anyone and everyone that wanted to find out more about PAL® . . . And, then, I knew exactly why I was there. I was getting to play for both teams—the babies and their caregivers—in an area where technology is ever evolving, here was something that not only enhanced the care that these babies are receiving, but gives them pleasure in the process. We have technology to transilluminate veins, to make our blood draws and IV starts safer, the ongoing quest for the “stickiest” probes and leads, you name it and I guarantee there will be a better, safer, faster way in a few years. Unfortunately, in order to provide the care that a NICU baby requires, they often must endure their fair share of painful and developmentally “unsupportive” procedures. So, by now you are asking yourself, “Chris, is there a point you are trying to make . . . Sometime today?!” And, my answer is . . . YES! Because I believe in all the research that has been done to bring PAL® to market, because I believe in the results that have documented and published – all the statistics and data—that’s what clinical studies are for and I have PLENTY of those—just ask me and I’ll send them to you. But, most of all because I have seen the PAL® in use. I have seen the supportive care measures it provides and how the babies respond to it. I am not a salesperson and this blog is not about selling, as a matter of fact, when I accepted this position I did it under the condition that I wouldn’t be “hanging up my scrubs” I will just be switching them out every so often for grown up clothes and between the costume changes hopefully be making a difference along the way.
As we all know (or as I found out after researching blogs until my eyes crossed) a blog is only as good as the feedback. I want to hear from you, I would like YOUR input, YOUR comments, YOUR questions, YOUR stories as a forum for any future topics you would like to discuss. I will be posting once a week and I look forward to hearing from you.
Watch for our pics from NANN! And congrats to DeLana B. Winner of the iPod and iTunes gift certificate. Happy listening!