Neonatal care nurse commences 11-month stint at MCMH

A neonatal intensive care unit nurse has begun an 11-month stint at the Milton Cato Memorial Hospital (MCMH), during which she will provide on-going hands-on consultation, guidance and nurses’ training.{{more}}

A release from the Ministry of Health, Wellness and the Environment said Kathy Frankel, of the United Children of the World Project, began her consultancy on Monday, September 16, and will be based at the Neonatal Intensive Care Unit of the MCMH, as a part of the World Paediatric Project Neonatal Intensive Care Unit Capacity Building Programme.

The World Paediatric Project has been an integral player in the advancement of care for neonatal patients in this country since 2006. Current efforts comprise a multi-year action plan to improve patient care outcomes. This plan has as its foundation: 1) continuing intensive nurse and physician education; 2) enhancing administrative structural relationships to impact efficient delivery of care; 3) identifying additional equipment and supplies deemed of highest priority for patient safety; 4) optimising the provision of medical care in certain key areas.

The World Paediatric Project executes its efforts through neonatology experts from St Louis, Missouri, USA.

A release from the Ministry said it was determined that an extended stay by a WPP volunteer nurse would provide an invaluable opportunity for on-going hands-on consultation, guidance and nurses’ training within the context of the daily operations at the Milton Cato Memorial Hospital.

“Frankel’s presence at the MCMH will allow her to immediately understand the current challenges and constraints impacting the Neonatal Intensive Care Unit at the MCMH,” the release said.

According to the release, Frankel will work regularly alongside the nursing staff, offering hands-on guidance. She will not take the place of Vincentian nurses, but will serve in a consultant role as a complement to the existing staff.

The extended stay of the nurse consultant is designed to: further nursing processes to optimise patient care; improve nursing charting on patients for higher efficiency; consider existing protocols and craft context-relevant, written protocols for nursing procedures in the Neonatal Intensive Care Unit; encourage staff to begin to regularly utilise those protocols in order to standardise practice; evaluate and champion the feasibility of a dedicated Neonatal Intensive Care Unit Staffing Team; introduce, educate and promote interventions to foster neuromotor development.