When Karen Griffiths lost her 2-year-old son, Daniel, to leukemia in 1980, it opened her eyes to the compassionate role of pediatric nurses. Nearly two decades later, at age 44, she received her nursing degree. Griffiths is a nurse in the Neonatal Intensive Care Unit (NICU) at Ronald Reagan UCLA Medical Center, a position she has held since 2000. 

Why did you decide to become a NICU nurse?
The nurses who looked after my son (and really me) during his year-long battle with leukemia were incredible. One particular pediatric oncology nurse’s kindness and support during this very difficult time made a lasting impression on me. Cheryl was with me when Daniel died. Her compassion at this heartbreaking time inspired me to follow in her footsteps. It was then that I decided that one day I would become a nurse and help families through one of life’s worst experiences just as Cheryl had helped mine.

Originally, I planned to be a teacher. I was in my 20s and had just received my degree in elementary education when I moved to England. Unfortunately, my American degree didn’t allow me to teach there, so instead I opened a gymnastics training center. Then my family relocated to Texas for my husband’s job, when Daniel got sick and died. I looked into nursing programs when we returned to England, but I was told that at age 40 I was too old. Once my family moved back to the U.S., I heard about the accelerated nursing program at Mount St. Mary’s College, which allows college degree-holders to earn a nursing degree in just a year. I was a member of that program’s first graduating class. Sixteen years after she cared for my son, Cheryl came to Los Angeles to attend my graduation from nursing school.

What is the role of a NICU nurse?
As a NICU nurse, I monitor the baby’s condition, give medications, respond to an infant’s needs (changing diapers, feeding, etc.), keep the parents current on any changes and advocate for my patient and on the family’s behalf to the medical staff. There really isn’t a typical day in the NICU. You have to be ready for anything because an infant’s condition can change very quickly.

Besides taking care of patients, what other things do you do for the NICU?
Every other year, the NICU staff hosts a reunion for former NICU patients (we call them graduates) and their families. The festivities take place on the UCLA campus and include pony rides, inflatable bounce houses, puppet shows, arts, crafts, music and lots more. Since 2006, I have created a video of the reunion for the nurses who miss out because they are working. Last year, I started helping the unit manager organize the activities. It takes a lot of time and effort, as well as lots of help from the NICU staff, to plan these celebrations.

What do you love most about your job?
There are so many things that I love. For starters, I work with some pretty fabulous people. We’re a close-knit group that is more like a family than co-workers. We always help out one another. And then, of course, there are the babies and their families. It is so gratifying to finally send a baby home after months in the NICU. But I especially love being the person who gets to place an infant into a mother’s arms for the first time. There is no better feeling.

What is the most challenging part of your job?
Even after all of these years and with my own loss of a child, it is still so hard to know what to say to parents when their infant isn’t going to survive or they are facing the decision to withdraw support from their child. When it’s appropriate, I’ll share my story to let them know that I really do understand what it’s like to be in their shoes. I can reach out in ways other nurses can’t because of this shared experience.

What are some of your outside interests and hobbies?
I love shooting and editing video, as well as drawing, gardening and cooking. I film many of the NICU conferences and events, such as Christmas and retirement parties, the NICU reunions and even filmed the move from the old hospital. I sometimes make DVDs for families of my primary infants on special occasions like Mother’s Day and Father’s Day. Outside of work, I film and edit wedding videos for family and friends.

This story was originally published in UCLA Health Employee News.