That’s the pre-flight checklist of neonatal transport nurse Janice Berry, RN, BSN, RNC-NIC, who provides advanced care to fragile infants mid-air and miles away from a hospital’s resources and support.
Janice has spent her entire nursing career at Children’s National Hospital, starting in the NICU in 1986. After years of bedside care, she transitioned to neonatal transport, a role that requires expertise clinical skills and the ability to stay calm and independent under pressure.
About 1,000 times a year, Janice and her team travel by ground or air to bring a baby from a regional hospital back to Children’s for specialized care. The work is intense and the responsibility is enormous, but so is the impact.
For Janice, the most important part of the job is not the clinical care she provides. Working with families and ensuring parents can be a part of their child’s care is at the heart of her work.
“It’s an incredibly vulnerable time for parents. They’re in an unimaginable position. Speaking with them and easing their discomfort is an important part of the job.”
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