NICU nurse at Beacon Children’s Hospital recognized as finalist in national program
When a group of Beacon Children’s Hospital associates nominated Dee Ullmer, RN-NIC, for the 4moms NICU Nurse of the Year award, they didn’t have to go far to gather kudos for the nomination form: her patients’ parents.
“She loved my son like her own child, holding him and comforting him when I couldn’t be there.”
“She empowered my husband and me to care for our ventilator-dependent son and feel like real parents rather than bystanders.”
“She strives to make you feel welcomed and at ease in the NICU and made me feel like no matter what, everything was going to be okay.”
With these positive testimonies — and many more from her colleagues — it’s easy to understand why the nonprofit organization Project Sweet Peas and baby gear manufacturer 4moms chose Dee as one of 10 national finalists for the first-ever Nominate a NICU Nurse program.
“I was completely surprised and honored to even be nominated,” Ullmer said. “It’s nice to be reminded how important the work we all do in the NICU is to our families, patients and co-workers.”
From her colleagues’ perspectives, the honor is certainly well-deserved.
“All of our nurses are supportive of families, but Dee takes it one step further,” said Dr. Robert White, Beacon Medical Group neonatologist. “She senses when people are reluctant and need a push and she is willing to give one, which is not typical. She gets the moms who are really scared and not quite ready to do the things with the baby they would like to do. Dee gets them past that, which is why she is so special.”
Ullmer received a gift bag from Project Sweat Peas as well as five brand-new MamaRoo® Swings for Beacon Children’s Hospital.
“4moms is thrilled to be honoring the incredible work that Dee does at Beacon Children’s Hospital,” Debbie Lee, Chief Marketing Officer of 4Moms said in a statement. “We hope our donation of MamaRoo® Swings to the NICU will further help Dee and her colleagues with their lifesaving work at Beacon Children’s Hospital.”
The swings will provide Ullmer and other NICU nurses with one more way to continue delivering outstanding care to their patients and their families when they need it most.
“These swings will be an extra set of hands,” said Ullmer. “We have a lot of babies who want to be held and these swings mimic that. It gives them a safe place to watch their mobile, listen to their music and be comforted.”
