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OMAHA NURSES ARE STRENGTHENING FAMILIES ONE HOME VISIT AT A TIME. THE VISITING NURSE ASSOCIATION HAS A NEW MILLION DOLLAR STATE GRANT TO VISIT NEWBORN BABIES AT HOME. IT’S HEALTH CARE AND HUMAN CARE THAT HAS FAR REACHING IMPACTS. HOME IS WHERE THE FAMILY IS. SHE’S HAD A GREAT NAP, SO THAT’S GOOD. LAUREN GARVEY IS A FIRST TIME MOM. IT’S TRULY LIFE CHANGING. IT’S HARD. ONE OF THE HARDEST THINGS, I THINK THE HARDEST THING I’VE EVER DONE, INCLUDING RESIDENCY, MED SCHOOL, BUT ALSO THE BEST. LAUREN IS ALSO A PEDIATRICIAN IN TRAINING, AND BABY ELLA IS GIVING HER MOM HANDS ON EXPERIENCE. I’M TRULY HUMBLED BY HOW HARD MOTHERHOOD IS. LAUREN IS BEYOND GRATEFUL. A NURSE IS STOPPING BY. THROUGH THE VANS NEW FAMILY CONNECTS PROGRAM. YES. HOW ARE YOU DOING? ESPECIALLY FOR HELP WITH FEEDING ELLA. SHE WAS LIKE A HYPE WOMAN. SHE WAS LIKE. BECAUSE THERE’S SO MUCH SELF DOUBT. NURSES ARE ABLE TO SPEND TIME ANSWERING QUESTIONS AND REASSURING MOMS. EXTRA TIME NOT ALWAYS AVAILABLE AT THE DOCTOR’S OFFICE. ASSESSING MOM AND BABY. ASSESSING THE EMOTIONAL NEEDS OF MOM AND THE VNA IS MAKING THE ROUNDS. VISITING 120 DOUGLAS COUNTY FAMILIES IN THEIR OWN HOMES SINCE OCTOBER, MEETING BABIES ON THEIR BIRTHDAYS AT THREE HOSPITALS. A STATE GRANT HAS THEM CHECKING WEIGHT, HEIGHT, HEIGHT AND LITTLE HEARTS, ALL TO OFFER SUPPORT TO FAMILIES EARLY WITH QUICK REFERRALS LIKE AN INCISION APPEARS INFECTED OR THE UMBILICAL AREA APPEARS INFECTED WITH A NEWBORN. THAT CAN BE PRETTY SERIOUS, SO WE’VE REFERRED THEM BACK TO THEIR PEDIATRICIAN OR BACK TO THEIR OB. THEY’VE UNCOVERED LIFE SAVING ISSUES AMONG PATIENTS DUE TO HIGH BLOOD PRESSURE, BECAUSE WE DO CHECK MOMS WHEN WE’RE IN THE HOME, WE’VE HAD SOME MOMS THAT HAVE SOME POSTPARTUM ANXIETY OR DEPRESSION, AND SO WE’RE HAVING TO REFER THEM BACK TO THE DOCTOR’S OFFICE. AND WHILE THIS COUPLE IS WELL STOCKED WITH BABY BOOKS, IT’S VERY HARD TO HAVE A NEWBORN. AND THEY DON’T COME WITH MANUALS. THE VNA HOPES THIS IS A SERVICE, A REASSURING PAT ON THE BACK THEY CAN TAKE TO THE FAMILIES BEYOND DOUGLAS COUNTY. SO CUTE. RIGHT NOW. NURSE VISITS ARE CONNECTED TO PATIENTS FROM BERGAN MER
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Omaha’s VNA nurses strengthen families with home visits for newborns
Patient: ‘I’m truly humbled by how hard motherhood is’
Omaha’s Visiting Nurse Association (VNA) is using a million-dollar state grant to visit newborns at home, providing healthcare and emotional support to families in Douglas County through its Family Connects program.Lauren Gavia, a first-time mom and pediatrician in training, expressed her gratitude for the program, especially for the assistance with feeding her baby, Ella. “It’s truly life-changing. It’s hard. One of the hardest things I’ve ever done, including residency and med school, but also the best,” Gavia said. She added, “I’m truly humbled by how hard motherhood is.” She described the nurse as “Like a hype woman because there’s so much self-doubt.”The VNA nurses spend time answering questions, offering extra support that may not be available during regular doctor visits. Jillian Vanacek, a nurse with the program, said, “Assessing mom and baby, assessing the emotional needs of mom.”Since October, the VNA has visited 120 families in Douglas County. The VNA initially makes contact with the families in the hospital, hours after birth, at three CHI hospitals. The state grant allows nurses to check weight, height, and heart health at home appointments, providing early support and quick referrals. Jillian explained, “Like an incision appears infected or umbilical appears infected, so we refer back to their OB.”The program has uncovered life-saving issues among patients, such as high blood pressure and postpartum depression, prompting referrals back to doctors, according to Kelly Mackling, VNA Clinical Manager.While some families are well-stocked with baby books, the VNA aims to offer a reassuring pat on the back to families beyond Douglas County. A parent noted, “It’s very hard to have a newborn. They don’t come with manuals.”Currently, nurse visits are connected to patients from CHI Bergan, Mercy, and Immanuel Medical Centers, with hopes to expand the program statewide.Make sure you can always see the latest news, weather, sports and more from KETV NewsWatch 7 on Google search.NAVIGATE: Home | Weather | Local News | National | Sports | Newscasts on demand |
Omaha’s Visiting Nurse Association (VNA) is using a million-dollar state grant to visit newborns at home, providing healthcare and emotional support to families in Douglas County through its Family Connects program.
Lauren Gavia, a first-time mom and pediatrician in training, expressed her gratitude for the program, especially for the assistance with feeding her baby, Ella. “It’s truly life-changing. It’s hard. One of the hardest things I’ve ever done, including residency and med school, but also the best,” Gavia said. She added, “I’m truly humbled by how hard motherhood is.” She described the nurse as “Like a hype woman because there’s so much self-doubt.”
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The VNA nurses spend time answering questions, offering extra support that may not be available during regular doctor visits. Jillian Vanacek, a nurse with the program, said, “Assessing mom and baby, assessing the emotional needs of mom.”
Since October, the VNA has visited 120 families in Douglas County. The VNA initially makes contact with the families in the hospital, hours after birth, at three CHI hospitals. The state grant allows nurses to check weight, height, and heart health at home appointments, providing early support and quick referrals. Jillian explained, “Like an incision appears infected or umbilical appears infected, so we refer back to their OB.”
The program has uncovered life-saving issues among patients, such as high blood pressure and postpartum depression, prompting referrals back to doctors, according to Kelly Mackling, VNA Clinical Manager.
While some families are well-stocked with baby books, the VNA aims to offer a reassuring pat on the back to families beyond Douglas County. A parent noted, “It’s very hard to have a newborn. They don’t come with manuals.”
Currently, nurse visits are connected to patients from CHI Bergan, Mercy, and Immanuel Medical Centers, with hopes to expand the program statewide.
Make sure you can always see the latest news, weather, sports and more from KETV NewsWatch 7 on Google search.
NAVIGATE: Home | Weather | Local News | National | Sports | Newscasts on demand |
