Contact: Ellen Bank
843.792.2626
May 21, 2001
CHARLESTON, SC -- Katherine Chase, RN, a clinical nurse leader in the MUSC Children's Hospital, was named Nurse of the Year by the Southeast Region Metro Edition of Nursing Spectrum magazine.
Chase was recognized for her role in the implementation of developmental care in the neonatal unit. Development care focuses on nurturing along with cutting edge science.
The program she instituted features:
* eliminating bright lights and ringing to provide a quieter, gentler environment;
* working in pairs with performing an uncomfortable procedure on an infant so one can perform the task while the other securely snuggles the baby.
* utilizing incubators that keep light out of the babies' eyes while they receive life-saving phototherapy
* presenting classes to parents to help them understand the special care prEemies require and how their babies will be cared for by the nurses
* organizing volunteers to make blankets, preemie clothing, eyepads for the babies, and oversized shorts so parents can kangaroo their babies close to their skin.
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