Located on the 5th floor of the Tahoe Tower, Renown’s newly updated Level III Neonatal Intensive Care Unit (NICU) is decorated with colorful artwork on the walls, the lights dim for the newborns resting, and parents conversing next to the bassinet with nurses on their baby’s journey to health. In the quiet, shuffling hallways stands Mariah DaSilva, a Renown NICU Nurse, whose own birth story showed her true compassion and professional dedication to what it means to care for the tiniest and most vulnerable patients.
From the Medical Floor to the NICU
Mariah started her nursing career on the medical floor at Renown; however, after a year, she was excited to see her dream job open in the NICU and helping to provide compassionate care for the most fragile patients.
“I’ve always known that I wanted to work with babies so being a NICU nurse was a dream of mine,” said Mariah. “I truly love what I do, and I can’t imagine being anywhere else than the NICU.”
A high-stakes environment, the NICU is where babies are transferred to after birth when they require medical intervention. They care for babies as young as 23 weeks gestation, up to full-term babies. Any babies born less than 35 weeks are automatically admitted into the NICU for treatment. Other than prematurity, babies can be admitted to the NICU for respiratory distress, low blood sugar (hypoglycemia), cardiac anomalies, birth defects, seizures and other medical conditions that need treatment or assessment.
A Day in the NICU: The Heart of Care
A typical day for Mariah starts with reviewing her assignments and receiving a detailed report from the night shift. Preparing for the day involves scrubbing in and wiping down patient care areas to maintain a clean environment. Once everything is set, she begins a series of scheduled care tasks, which include performing assessments, feeding, changing diapers and facilitating parent involvement in their baby’s care
“There are so many exciting ‘firsts’ that happen in the NICU; parents holding their baby for the first time, parents' first time changing their baby’s diaper, bathing their baby for the first time, first time breast-feeding or bottle-feeding, the baby’s first time taking a full bottle, watching a baby breathe on their own without any respiratory support, etc.,” said Mariah. “There are so many big milestones that happen in the NICU that I am so incredibly lucky to be a part of.”
The NICU nurses work closely with neonatologists, nurse practitioners, respiratory therapists, speech therapists, physical therapists, occupational therapists and other specialists to deliver comprehensive care. This teamwork and collaboration ensure that each baby receives the best care possible for their health journey. Mariah shared a reflection on her team:
“Our NICU team is amazing. Being a part of a team that is so compassionate and collaborative is amazing. We all work closely together to ensure we’re providing the best care possible for every single baby that comes to the NICU. We are all very protective of the babies that we care for in the NICU and truly want the best outcomes for them and their families. Taking care of such a vulnerable population comes with a lot of responsibility and we take pride in what we do each day.”
As with all healthcare professionals, NICU nurses require immense strength and compassion to care for the youngest patients in a highly sensitive environment. “More often than not, we have really good days in the NICU, but we also have really hard days that affect every single person in the NICU,” said Mariah. “The loss of a baby, delivering bad news to a parent, an extended NICU stay and a baby withdrawing from drugs are all situations that we unfortunately deal with in the NICU. These situations are all very challenging, but we have to stay strong for the babies and their families.”
Nursing at Renown Health
Nurses at Renown Health demonstrate a commitment to patients and their families through integration of care, clinical expertise, education, evidence-based practice and the pursuit of quality patient outcomes.
A Personal Perspective
In the summer of 2023, Mariah was expecting a new addition to her family. Little did she know that not only would her life change forever but also her perspective on her career. A few weeks before her due date, her care team noticed that her son’s heart rate was quickly dropping, and she needed an emergency c-section. He was safely born at 4 lbs. and 15 oz; however, he was unknowingly growth-restricted, causing low blood sugar and hypothermia, which led to his admission into the NICU.
“Nothing prepares you for having a baby in the NICU, even myself as a NICU nurse,” said Mariah. “Having to leave the hospital each night without my son was heartbreaking. I was newly postpartum, recovering from an unexpected c-section and trying to navigate life as a first-time mom with a baby in the NICU. It was emotionally draining and one of the hardest times in my life.”
Navigating the NICU as a parent was a life-changing experience for her. Seeing her own child receive immunizations and painful lab draw pokes, coupled with the emotional toll of leaving him behind each night, allowed her to truly understand the stress, fear and emotions that many of the NICU parents feel. This firsthand experience has enabled her to connect with and support other families facing similar situations.
“The NICU team was absolutely amazing, and I will never be able to express my gratitude for them,” said Mariah. “They were there with us to celebrate the good days but were also there to help us through the hard days. There were so many nights when I would leave the NICU visibly upset and crying, and I was greeted with open arms and had so many shoulders to cry on. Not only did the NICU team care for my son, but they also made sure my fiancé and I were okay, which I truly appreciated.”
For families expecting a new addition, here is the advice that Mariah shared: “Nothing prepares anyone for having a baby in the NICU. You feel helpless, sad, frustrated, fearful, so many different emotions. I would tell NICU families to be present when in the NICU with their babies and take in that time. Just because you have a baby in the NICU doesn’t mean you can’t bond with them. Being in the NICU is only temporarily, and you will get through it. Having your baby graduate from the NICU is such a special day and a day you will never forget.”
Reflections and Impact
Mariah’s personal journey through the NICU has allowed her to approach families in the unit with more empathy and sensitivity. She often shares her own story with other parents to offer comfort and reassurance. She lets them know that they are not alone and that having their baby in the NICU is only temporary.
“To be able to shed some light during a dark time for these families means so much to me,” said Mariah. “With each baby I care for, I take a step back and think if it were my baby, how would I want them cared for. My son received the best care when he was in the NICU, and I reciprocate that same level of care to each of my patients.” For aspiring NICU nurses, Mariah shared her advice: “The NICU is such a special place to work. As NICU nurses, we are grateful to care for this patient population and be there for their families. We want nurses on our team who are compassionate and will advocate for our patients, as they cannot advocate for themselves.”
Mariah’s story is a reminder of the importance of showing compassion and courage, whether you are a caregiver or a patient. Renown prides itself on making a genuine difference in the health and well-being of the people and communities we serve. We believe that our team members, such as Mariah, truly represent our strong values of caring, integrity, collaboration and excellence.
