Reading Hospital Nurse Named 2019 Clinical Nurse Specialist of the Year
National Association of Clinical Nurse Specialists Honors Neonatal Specialist Lori Brittingham
Lori Brittingham, MSN, RN, CNS, ACCNS-N, a Neonatal Clinical Nurse Specialist (CNS) at Reading Hospital, who has spent almost three decades in healthcare helping children, has been chosen as the 2019 CNS of the Year by the National Association of Clinical Nurse Specialists (NACNS).
A CNS is an Advanced Practice Nurse whose primary function is to improve outcomes in patient care. Brittingham was honored at the 2019 NACNS Annual Conference in Orlando, Fla., in early March. The NACNS Awards Committee selected her for outstanding contributions to Reading Hospital's Neonatal Intensive Care Unit (NICU). Clinical nurse specialists from around the country were nominated for their competencies and exemplary practice in patient care, nursing, and health care delivery systems.
Some of Brittingham's contributions to the Reading NICU over the past year include:
- Collaborating with the Radiology Department to complete infant magnetic resonance imaging (MRI) tests on-site. Prior to this change, neonatal infants needing an MRI would be transported to a hospital up to an hour away.
- Working with the Emergency Department (ED) Clinical Nurse Specialist to develop and implement a neonatal simulation program to improve practices regarding care of neonates and critically ill infants in the ED.
- Drafting a policy and implementing the practice of bringing in donor milk to babies in need at the NICU.
Brittingham, who lives in Willow Grove, Pa., joined Reading Hospital in October 2015 after spending 25 years at Children's Hospital of Philadelphia.
Reading Hospital
Reading Hospital is the flagship, Magnet Recognized, acute care hospital of Tower Health. Located in West Reading, Pa., Reading Hospital is a 714-bed hospital that is home to many top-tier specialty care centers, including Reading HealthPlex, McGlinn Cancer Institute, Miller Regional Heart Center, Emergency Department, Level I Trauma Center and Beginnings Maternity Center, which houses the region's only Level III Neonatal Intensive Care Unit (NICU). With more than 1,000 physicians, specialists, and advanced practice providers across 49 locations, Reading Hospital has been recognized for its quality outcomes and clinical expertise across services lines. It is listed as one of America's 100 Best Hospitals for four consecutive years and received a 5-Star Rating from CMS two years in a row. For more information, visit towerhealth.org.