In this episode of "Compassionate Care," we dive into the impact of long-term hospitalizations on families and how healthcare providers can offer crucial support. During this discussion we explore how extended medical stays affect healthcare providers themselves. Discover ways to maintain empathy and professionalism while managing the emotional demands of caring for patients with prolonged needs. Discuss effective strategies for preparing families for the next phase of care. We provide actionable tips for medical teams to enhance their resilience and maintain a compassionate approach throughout extended patient care

Shannon Parrish, our expert guest, is Neonatal ICU Lead Clinical Nurse at Johns Hopkins Hospital.

She started there as a clinical nurse extern in 2013 and worked her way up the clinical ladder over the last 11 years.

Shannon is passionate about bedside nursing, mental health, wellness and mindfulness. In the last two years, she has served as chair of her unit’s Welcoming Committee, for which she developed the NICU Mentorship Program, as well as a work-life wellness class for new-grad nurse orientation in an effort to help with retention and burnout.

When Shannon isn’t taking care of babies in the NICU, she is a wife and mother of identical twin boys.

Her journey into motherhood inspired her to improve mental health and wellness for her nursing peers. Experiencing a high-risk pregnancy and NICU stay was an eye-opening experience that renewed her passion for nursing and empathy for NICU families.

View the transcript.

Music: Daylight by JayJen

Sponsored by the West Virginia Department of Human Services, Office of Maternal, Child, and Family Health/Children with Special Health Care Needs Program and the West Virginia Family 2 Family Health Information Center and Produced by the West Virginia University Center for Excellence in Disabilities.