Partnering for pediatric patients

Enriching every life is why we are here. It is our purpose and priority. It is also why the Pediatrics Unit and Children's Miracle Network Hospitals, a program of Gundersen Medical Foundation, invested the time and resources to send eight registered Gundersen nurses to UW Health American Family Children's Hospital in Madison.

Gundersen Pediatric and PNICU registered nurses (from left) Breanna Reigstad and Alyssa Miller pose outside UW Health American Family Children’s Hospital during their two-week shadowing experience. Not pictured but also part of the experience is Chelsea Bink, Taylan Johnson, Taylor Matchey, Allison Murdoch, Jenica Schieber and Kristen Small.

"Due to our local community size, we don't always have consistent Pediatric Intensive Care Unit (PICU) volumes. By sending our registered nurses to Madison, we were able to give them unique and specialized learning experiences, with our hopes to transfer this clinical knowledge into their practice when staffing in the PICU," states Chet Doering, DNP, MBA, RN, administrative director, Pediatric Services.

Breanna Reigstad, BSN, RN, Pediatric/Neonatal Intensive Care Unit (PNICU), was among the eight Gundersen nurses who seized the opportunity. "My experience in the PICU at the Children's Hospital in Madison helped increase my comfort level with a patient population we seldom see at Gundersen," she says.

Breanna worked almost five years on Gundersen's Orthopedic Unit before starting her role as a PNICU nurse in October 2017. She says being in another hospital, and observing the similarities and differences in care, was one of the highlights of her experience. "It made me proud to work here at Gundersen."

In addition to direct support to sick children and their families, Children's Miracle Network Hospitals®, a service of Gundersen Medical Foundation, also provides grants for continuing education for Gundersen staff, that in turn improves experiences for pediatric patients and their families.

This is just one of the many programs supported by Gundersen Medical Foundation. Through the iGive Employee Giving Campaign many choose to support their passion with donations to the Foundation for medical education, research, community health outreach, financial assistance for patients and staff, patient care and education, global healthcare partners and others.

To learn more, visit gundersenhealth.org/igive.