Nursing
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Nursing

Using a family-centered approach, the nursing staff at Blythedale embraces not only the care of the medically complex child, but of their family as well. The skills and expertise of our nurses enables them to care for infants and children with a wide range of diagnoses and complicated medical conditions.  

The focus of our care is on the possibilities of each child and family for healing, for learning and for progress. We individualize the plan of care to incorporate each family's goals as we recognize that every child and parent has unique needs and strengths. Our hands-on nursing approach directly impacts our patients' physical, social and emotional health. 

The majority of our patients come from acute care hospitals and intensive care units. Nursing plays a key role in assisting families with the transition to an acute rehabilitation environment. Our compassion and expertise in caring for medically complex children makes us uniquely equipped to teach parents the skills needed to return home.

Contact Information:

  • Jill Wegener, M.S.N., R.N., Senior Vice President, Chief Nursing Officer and Patient Care Services
  • jwegener@blythedale.org

Nursing Staff

Jill Wegener, Senior Vice President, Chief Nursing Officer and Patient Care Services
Jill Wegener, M.S.N., R.N.
Senior Vice President, Chief Nursing Officer and Patient Care Services

Blythedale's 100% RN staff is pediatric trained in caring for medically fragile children, the majority of whom are NICU/PICU and PALS (pediatric advanced life support) trained. In addition, all nurses are trained in Therapeutic Crisis Intervention. In addition, the department has eight board certified Wound, Ostomy and Continence nurses.

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Treatments We Support

Pulmonary Rehabilitation

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Pulmonary Rehabilitation

The goal of the Pulmonary Rehabilitation program is weaning from technology completely or to the least invasive support to facilitate the family's transition to home. Parents are involved in the care of their child every step of the way, and learn proper use of equipment, care of tracheostomy,...

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Acquired and Traumatic Brain Injury

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Acquired and Traumatic Brain Injury

Blythedale Children’s Hospital is a longtime leader in the treatment of children recovering from brain injury including Traumatic Brain Injury (TBI), post-infectious diseases such as meningitis or Anti-NMDA receptor encephalitis (ANMDAR), brain tumors and stroke. The extraordinary...

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Post Acute Neonatal Care

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Post Acute Neonatal Care

Whether requiring ongoing medical management and rehabilitation due to extreme prematurity, bronchopulmonary dysplasia, congenital cardiac disease, pulmonary hypertension , hypoxic-ischemic encephalopathy, short gut syndrome, feeding disorders or other complications occurring in the neonatal period...

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Specialized Feeding

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Specialized Feeding

Children referred to Blythedale for Therapeutic Feeding have wide-ranging conditions including prematurity, short-gut syndrome, brain injury, oral-motor dysfunction, aversion behaviors, cognitive deficits or post-surgical complications. Services for these children include evaluations for both...

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Complex Wound and Burn Management

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Complex Wound and Burn Management

The child’s clinical team works collaboratively with parents and other caregivers to identify developmentally appropriate medical and therapeutic goals. This team is also committed to meeting the psychological and social challenges that accompany burn and wound treatment and recovery,...

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Complex Post-Surgical Rehabilitation

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Complex Post-Surgical Rehabilitation

Patients are admitted for acute medical and rehabilitative inpatient care following major trauma (such as head and spinal injuries, extensive soft tissue trauma/burns, vascular injuries, major muscle/ligament injuries, amputations or fractures), extensive scoliosis surgery, selective dorsal...

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Cancer Rehabilitation

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Cancer Rehabilitation

A customized therapeutic regimen enables patients to regain their strength and function while undergoing or recovering from surgery, chemotherapy and/or radiation therapy. We recognize the vital importance of an ongoing relationship with the child’s referring oncology team, and we participate...

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Neuromuscular Disorders

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Neuromuscular Disorders

The goal of our Neuromuscular Disorders program is to help children maximize their functional abilities through comprehensive medical care and rehabilitation, utilizing state-of-the-art technology, environmental modifications and adaptive equipment. Following an intake evaluation, the child’s...

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Pre/Post Organ & Stem Cell Transplant

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Pre/Post Organ & Stem Cell Transplant

These children require the highest level attention of a multidisciplinary team of pediatricians, pediatric physiatrists, nurses, nutritionists, pharmacists and physical, occupational, speech and feeding therapists familiar with the problems inherent in recovery from and living with a transplant. We...

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Complex Chronic Conditions

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Complex Chronic Conditions

Many children come to Blythedale with multiple, complex chronic conditions that impact their function. These chronic conditions - including cerebral palsy, CHARGE syndrome, congenital and chromosomal abnormalities, severe epilipsy - can complicate recovery after surgeries, acute illnesses or...

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Cancer Rehabilitation

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Cancer Rehabilitation

A customized therapeutic regimen enables patients to regain their strength and function while undergoing or recovering from surgery, chemotherapy and/or radiation therapy. We recognize the vital importance of an ongoing relationship with the child’s referring oncology team, and we participate...

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Cardiac Rehabilitation

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Cardiac Rehabilitation

As more infants and children are undergoing complex cardiac surgical procedures to repair congenital conditions such as hypoplastic left heart syndrome, tetralogy of fallot, transposition of the great vessels, coarctation of the aorta, or cardiac injury due to myocarditis or traumatic injury,...

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Jill Wegener, CNO

Customizing Care for Each Child

Chief Nursing Officer Jill Wegener explains that no care plan is one-size-fits all at Blythedale.
 

Malka

Malka on the Move

Eight-year-old Malka contracted an infection last spring that attacked her heart. She and her family visited a cardiologist in June, who diagnosed her with tachyarrhythmia because her heart rate was too fast. 

She needed a new heart. So, to keep her alive until one could be found, doctors performed lifesaving surgery on Malka and implanted an LVAD in her chest.

Watch Malka thrive at Blythedale Children's Hospital as she strengthens her heart, body and mind in preparation for transplant surgery with the help of nursing staff, doctors, therapists and other members of her multidisciplinary team.