I would like to recognize my friend and colleague, Donna Wertheim, for her 20 years of service in the NICU here at JHACH. Working with Donna for the past 2 decades has been an honor. She is not only an outstanding nurse but one of our unit's greatest cheerleaders. It might be easier to list the things that she doesn't do; however, I will try to highlight her contributions during her career here at JHACH. First of all, she is a master's degree-prepared nurse who continues to work at the bedside. She is an excellent resource for new nurses and experienced nurses alike. I find myself consulting with her often. Donna is a skin champion and a highly trained neonatal abstinence syndrome expert. She works with this special population frequently. Donna consistently maintains a non-judgmental approach when working with these mothers and seems to have endless patience when caring for these sensitive and often fussy babies. Donna is also a preceptor, mentor, and primary nurse. She co-authored the NICU Rooming In clinical practice guideline. She is a shoulder to cry on and is always ready to lend a hand or offer a listening ear. She never hesitates to advocate for her patients and her fellow nurses. But if you were to ask Donna what she is most proud of here at the office, she would likely say our NICU newsletter. She is the editor-in-chief and does an outstanding job creating and cultivating content for it. The NICU environment is very rewarding but can be extraordinarily stressful. Donna brings attention to the good things that are happening all around us. Every edition of the newsletter highlights our service anniversaries, health and wellness topics, social events, celebrations (weddings, births, etc.), and more. She inspires us to share our stories - and we do! The topics always spark conversations and bring us closer together as a unit and as a NICU family.
In conclusion, I just have to say that even when life outside of work demands her full attention, like recent family health issues, Donna's dedication to our unit and this hospital never wavers. She gives 100% of herself every shift and publishes that newsletter! Cheers to you, Donna!

This is Donna’s second DAISY Award!