The following first appeared in the Saint Barnabas Medical Center Neonatal Intensive Care Unit (NICU) Family Advisory Council Newsletter. Visit the NICU website for previous issues.
Interview With Stephanie Phillips-Johnson, Unit Representative, Neonatal Intensive Care Unit, Saint Barnabas Medical Center
Q: How long have you been working at Saint Barnabas Medical Center and what is your job?
A: I have been the Unit Representative in the NICU at Saint Barnabas for the last 18 years! I am often one of the first faces families see when they come to spend time with their baby in the NICU, as I work at the desk right in the NICU Welcome Lobby. I usually work Monday through Friday from 7:00 am to 3:00 pm and sometimes on the weekend.
Q: What are your main responsibilities in this role?
A: My main responsibilities in this role are to:
- greet and orient families and visitors to the NICU. The security guard and I let them know about how to use the lockers for coats and other personal belongings along with the importance of putting their phones/electronics in a clean plastic bag each day and washing their hands.
- make discharged moms a photo ID to hang around their neck once their hospital band is removed from their wrist. We also try to make the dads their badge to hang around their neck the first or second time they come to the NICU. We make hanging ID badges for designated NICU support people as well since parents can identify up to four other people they allow to visit their baby without them there.
- answer the phones and direct calls in the NICU.
- help the NICU staff with paperwork for admissions.
Q: What do you think is the most important thing for parents and visitors to know about coming to spend time in the NICU?
A: I think scrubbing their hands very well and putting their phone/electronic device in a plastic bag is the most important, and more important than many visitors realize. Many germs are carried on our hands and cell phones and can be passed to the baby or the baby’s environment. Then the sick and premature babies can get sick very easily from germs brought into the unit. Our staff works very hard to limit the numbers of people and germs coming into the unit to keep our babies as safe as possible.
Q:Anything else you would like to let parents and visitors to the NICU know?
A: Maybe just to understand that we are trying to keep all the babies safe and healthy here. If you are asked repeatedly on one day or on consecutive days for ID, it is only for the benefit of the babies. Additionally, there might be different staff working who might not know you even though you may have been on the unit for a long time. I ask that all parents and designated NICU support people wear/bring their hanging ID badge to the NICU every day and try to be patient with us.
Q: Anything else you would like to add?
A: I am glad to help. Please feel free to come to me and I will help you find answers. I may not have all the answers, but I can definitely help you find them!
Learn more about the Neonatal intensive Care Unit at Saint Barnabas Medical Center