February 2017
Tammy
Novinger
,
RN, BSN
Harrisburg Hospital, NICU
PinnacleHealth System
Harrisburg
,
PA
United States
Tammy, who works in the neonatal intensive care unit (NICU) at Harrisburg Hospital, was recognized by a mother (and nurse) to twin babies who remained in the care of the NICU for many weeks. She made a strong first impression through her advocacy regarding the safest and most effective bottle nipples by reaching out to the unit's lactation consultant, physical and occupational therapists to determine the best ones. Additionally, Tammy made sure all the clearances were made for this mother to "room-in" with her twins for 24 hours in an attempt to improve the breastfeeding situation, typically reserved for special circumstances. She even provided her cell phone number so the new mom could update her. Described as the perfect balance of clinical competency and compassion, Tammy helped this family get through a challenging and rewarding time in their lives.