Lauren Fortier, CPNP-MSN, RN
Pediatric ICU, UMass Children’s Medical Center

On becoming a nurse practitioner in the PICU - "I pride myself on being a bridge.”
An NP in the PICU talks about her pathway to becoming a nurse, then a nurse practitioner, and how she sees her role: “I’m working with the providers a lot, I’m working with the nurses a lot, I’m really at the bedside working with families who need a lot more support and need some help and guidance and understanding.”
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On becoming a nurse practitioner in the PICU - "I pride myself on being a bridge.”

A PICU NP: Keeping "this family-at-home" central to tending to them in the hospital setting.

A PICU NP on appreciating the minute communications between the child and the parent.

A PICU NP on seeing the value of pediatric palliative care at work.

An NP reflects: “In the ICU setting, we often don’t even realize that a lot of what we’re doing is palliative care focused.”

An NP in the PICU on the importance of having a specialized palliative care team:

An NP in the PICU: “We often see that feeling of failing, for the parents."

An NP in the PICU: “I think the biggest challenge for parents is being and feeling understood.”

An NP in the PICU: It’s really important to go in to a family meeting with no assumptions … and that is really hard to do.”

An NP in the PICU: “My experience with angry parents suggests the anger stems from grief or not feeling heard.”

An NP in the PICU on how she refers families to Courageous Parents Network
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