Friday Fast Five - meet Kendall NIDCAP Trainee
In our Friday Fast Five series we interview individuals associated with the Australasian NIDCAP Training Centre based at Grace Centre for Newborn Intensive Care and the broader NIDCAP Federation International (NFI) community, asking them five questions that explore their association with our unit and NIDCAP. This month, meet Kendall Davis, Registered Nurse and NIDCAP Trainee.
Where do you work and what is your role?
I am a Registered Nurse in the Neonatal Intensive Care Unit at John Hunter Children鈥檚 Hospital (JHCH). I care for sick babies from 23 weeks gestation, up to term babies with a variety of medical and surgical needs.
What made you decide to undertake NIDCAP training?
After completing my FINE level 1 training, I discovered how passionate I was about neurodevelopmental care and quickly enrolled in FINE 2. It was an easy decision to want to take the next step with the NIDCAP professional training, particularly as I have the support of Larissa and Rachel completing it with me.
I am so passionate about empowering and supporting my colleagues and families to provide neuroprotective care, and understanding the importance of how what we do now, effects the babies both acutely and long term developmentally. I became an active member of the JHCH Neurodevelopmental Care Group, and have thoroughly enjoyed working towards enhancing neurodevelopmental care within the NICU.
Undertaking the NIDCAP professional training will increase my skills and knowledge in neurodevelopmental care, and improve the care we provide to our babies and families. I thoroughly enjoy working closely with families in understanding their babies developmental language, and how they can best support their baby individually.
In your opinion, how does NIDCAP potentially benefit neonates, families and staff?
NIDCAP benefits babies through decreasing stress and discomfort, which ultimately improves their brain functioning and development.
It emphasises the importance of infant and family centred care and empowering the families to understand their babies cues.
Having a multidisciplinary NIDCAP team within the NICU at JHCH will assist us in providing holistic neurodevelopmental care. NIDCAP benefits staff as it supports us in providing evidence based neurodevelopmental care, with skills and knowledge that can be implemented directly into our practice.
What are you hoping to achieve personally and professionally by completing NIDCAP training?
Whilst completing my NIDCAP training I am hoping to gain confidence in recognising and responding to babies individual cues. I am working actively and diligently towards knowing how to best support vulnerable babies, whilst educating and supporting my colleagues and families.
This has been an extremely empowering experience as I am able to collaboratively make a difference in the journeys of the babies and families we care for. I am hoping to individualised developmental goals and care plans, and ensure my colleagues and families feel confident in providing developmental care.
How do you anticipate you will incorporate NIDCAP within your clinical setting and role?
I incorporate my NIDCAP training into my role as a Registered Nurse daily, with every baby and family I care for. I am anticipating a broader focus will be shifted towards the importance of developmental care and am hoping to become an educational resource for the NICU.
Editor's note: The views of individuals do not represent the view of the Australasian NIDCAP Training Centre.