Neonatal Nurse Expert Witness

Expert Witness No. 1277

Ohio

Education

1992-1996, Loyola University, Louisiana, Baccalaureate degree in nursing, Liberal arts background with emphasis on professional growth and scholarship

1974-1977, Louisiana State University, Associate degree in nursing

Educational & Professional Honors and Awards

2004, Keynote speaker at Symposia in Holland addressing nurses and physicians at international conference. Titled Professional Technique of the NICU Nurse: Professional Transformation, addressed professionalism, the enactment of professionalism in the NICU, and how this relates to brain development using a developmental care mindset in the NICU.

2003, Service Excellence Award for ensuring safe evacuation of all infants during emergency fire evacuation.

2002, District of Columbia Safety Award presented to The George Washington University Hospital NICU leadership team for lowest infection rate in the country for central line management.

1997, Loyola University’s City college Dean’s Award, presented for the highest grade point average (4.0) in each degree program

1996, Sister Mary Agnes Fortier Award, presented by the Louisiana League for Nursing through Loyola nursing faculty for professionalism, scholarship, character, service and leadership.

1991, Outstanding Service Award for service on the Neonatal Intensive Care Unit Transport Team.

Certifications

1991-present, Neonatal Resuscitation Program Instructor, American Heart Association via American Academy of Pediatrics

2005, S.T.A.B.L.E certified instructor, program developed to train medical residents, nursing personnel, respiratory therapists, etc. in preparation of stabilizing and transporting the high-risk neonate.

Professional Experience

2004, Medical-legal nursing consultant for a Physiciann in neonatal nursing.

1999-July 2006, Clinical Supervisor, Neonatal Intensive Care Unit, hospital in Washington D.C.

Clinical practice, nursing internship course development and teaching, policy development, participation on hospital-wide Practice Committee, Infection Control Committee, Pain Committee, Value-Analysis Committee, Joint Commission Prep Team, procured ongoing funds for the construction of developmental care tools for the pre-term and high-risk infant, mentoring staff and Team Leaders, developed and implemented Evacuation Plan for the NICU, developed with our Chief Neonatologist and Outreach Program to facilitate other hospitals educational needs in order to duplicate our outcomes and evidence-based practices, constructed and coordinated all Transport policies and criteria for 2006 Neonatal Transport Team

2005, Published in Pediatrics as author describing central line management and infection rates

2002, Traveled to Egypt as Goodwill Ambassador to work with The Ministry of Health in Cairo and Aswan to reduce infant and maternal mortality. Featured in nursing publication in this role describing this experience.

2001, Published in pediatrics abstracts on Noise Levels in the NICU and Central Line Management via Closed Medication Administration System author

1998-1999, Clinical Coordinator, Neonatal Intensive Care Unit, The University Hospital, Ohio, Responsible for supervising and coordinating quality and safe nursing care for a 50 bed non-surgical level III NICU. Responsible for payroll, annual evaluations, all inservices, staff meetings, participation on Unit Based Design Team, involved in all committees involving the NICU hospital wide. Member of the Diversity Comittee. - Attended Developmental Care in the NICU Conference, San Francisco, and subsequently wrote a proposal submitted to the Executive Committee which procured $65,000.00 for Developmental Care training and tools for our high-risk patient population.

1997-1998, Staff Nurse, Neonatal Intensive Care Unit, The University Hospital, Cincinnati, Ohio, Responsible for the direct patient care of the high-risk neonate. Participated on the Staffing Committee. Oriented new nurses and nursing students.

1987-1997, Staff And Charge Nurse, Neonatal Intensive Care Unit, Step down Nursery and Well-Baby Nursery Tulane University Medical Center, Louisiana, Responsible for direct patient care of the high-risk neonate and normal newborn. Responsible for delegation of patient care assignments shift duties. Precepted the traveling contract nurse and mentored new staff. Responsible for attending Cesarean section and high-risk deliveries. Developed and implemented an admission plan in the newborn nursery which facilitated efficient transition of the newborn while providing equitable assignments for nursing staff. Functioned as a regional Neonatal Advanced Life Support instructor (now known as NRP-Neonatal Resuscitation Program). Author in Tulane’s Nursing news

Transport Nurse, Functioned as a NICU transport nurse for 2 years, traveling statewide and out of state attending high-risk deliveries and securing the transport and stabilization of the critical and high-risk neonate for admission to a level III surgical NICU.

1977-1987, Staff, Charge Nurse And Preceptor, Neonatal Intensive Care Units and Well-Baby Nurseries Sister of Charity Hospitals, Inc. at St. Frances Cabrini Hospital, and Schumpert Merdical Center in, Louisiana, Assumed staff and charge duties as stated in most recent roles above. Trained at sister hospitals to open NICU at gound level and preempted fellow nurses accordingly. Taught segments of prenatal classes on topics such as RH-incompatibility and moulding.

Professional Memberships

Sigma Theta Tau, Xi Psi Chapter
Alpha Sigma Lambda, Loyola University
American Nurses Association
Association of Neonatal Nurses

Publications

Available upon request.

References

Available upon request