NICU nurse cares for the tiniest of humans
Hannah Sierko ’13 has a career that is both daunting and rewarding. As a nurse in the Newborn Intensive Care Unit (NICU) at Akron Children’s Hospital, part of her job is going to deliveries to stabilize newborns.
“It’s amazing to see how strong these tiny humans are,” Sierko said. “Attending deliveries and participating in resuscitations is one of the most challenging aspects of my job because there are so many things that could happen. Stabilizing a premature baby takes a lot of teamwork and clear communication.”
Part of that communication also includes caring for the parents of newborns.
“I enjoy helping a mom and dad bond with their premature baby and teaching them how to care for their infant. It's exciting to see babies gain weight, come off of respiratory support, learn how to eat, graduate from an isolette to a crib, and eventually go home,” she said. “I also provide emotional support to the parents as they deal with the stress and uncertainty. Providing the proper care and support to the babies and their parents is meaningful and important to me.”
Sierko passed her National Council of State Boards of Nursing Licensure Examination (NCLEX) the summer of graduation, and was thrilled to accept the position at Akron Children’s.
“Malone's Nursing program is both challenging and thorough and prepared me well for the work environment. The NICU is such a specialized field that it is difficult to really focus on it in nursing school. But I had an excellent knowledge base and I continue to learn more every day,” Sierko said. “I have many wonderful memories from my time at Malone. I loved being able to go to a Christian university where God was openly acknowledged and praised. I made some lifelong friends at Malone, and valued the relationship-focused environment of the campus.”