The stress of being in the hospital is one that can be overwhelming for any parent with a sick child. All of their nurses, PCNAs, doctors, and therapists do their best to support them throughout the admission and make them as comfortable as possible while they are here in the hospital. There is one part of any admission that can easily be overlooked - discharge to home. Many families may be scared, anxious, unsure, or overwhelmed by the thought of taking their child home and going back to caring for them without a full medical team just steps away in case of emergency.
The Care Coordinators in Rainbow are the nurses who provide the support, guidance, and reassurance to families at one of the most exciting and nerve-wracking moments of any hospitalization. Whether it is providing teaching, ensuring medical equipment is ready and waiting, or lending a shoulder to cry on when times feel hopeless, our Care Coordinators spend each and every day they are here making an indelible impact on the patients and families we care for.
They prepare children that have spent their entire first year of life in the hospital for those special moments when they get to go home for the first time. Months of training, coordinating, troubleshooting, and support from these team members finally lead to a milestone that any family will never forget. They are the friendly face and consistent contact to guide and encourage families towards their goal of discharge. They are the liaison between so many members of the interdisciplinary team, as well as resources outside of the hospital. We are eternally grateful and so fortunate to have these dedicated professionals on our teams, and we could not provide the care we do without them. The Care Coordinators are the perfect example of a nurses' impact beyond the care given at the bedside, and we are proud to recognize them!