Our neonatal nurse practitioners serve as the primary caregiver to newborn infants in the neonatal intensive care unit (NICU). They design treatment plans for the tiniest patients with complex health issues, which can sometimes be the most daunting of tasks! This requires precise skills, complex technology, specialized facilities, and caregivers with a special gift. We want to thank our neonatal nurse practitioners for their hard work and passionate care for our smallest and most delicate patients.
Kasey Bearden, MSN, NNP-BC
Kasey started her nursing career as a Licensed Vocational Nurse (LVN). She received her Registered Nurse License (RN) from Excelsior College, and later went to Lubbock Christian University to receive her Bachelor of Science in Nursing (BSN). She worked at the UMC NICU, and nine years later she attended the University of Missouri, Kansas City to become a neonatal nurse practitioner (NNP). She has been a NNP for 13 years.
“I love working at UMC because of the teamwork I encounter during every shift. I also love being able to make a huge impact on the outcome of my fragile patients, while helping families adapt to the NICU world.”
Tiffany Decker MSN, NNP-BC
Tiffany became a registered nurse (RN) at the Texas Tech Health Sciences Center. She worked in the UMC NICU, and eight years later she decided to attend Baylor University to become a neonatal nurse practitioner (NNP). She has been a NNP for seven years.
“I love being an NNP because I am with babies and their families during their most fragile yet strongest moments. NICU babies are so resilient and it is something amazing to witness day after day!”
Larissa Losolla MSN, NNP-BC
Larissa became a registered nurse (RN) at South Plains College. She then started working in the UMC NICU. Ten years later, she went to UTMB in Galveston to become a neonatal nurse practitioner (NNP). She has been a NNP for five years.
“These babies don’t know how small they are, how bad their X-ray or labs look, or how stacked the odds are against them. They survive and work as hard as they can to get better. UMC NICU has always been my home and is one of the best places for these tiny survivors to thrive.”
Jamie Woodwick MSN, NNP-BC
Jamie became a registered nurse (RN) at Angelo State University. He then worked at the UMC NICU. After 23 years, Jamie became a family nurse practitioner at Texas Tech University, and then became a neonatal nurse practitioner (NNP) at UT Arlington in 2018. He has been a NNP for two years.
“The people at UMC make the difference. I love being in the NICU and have been fortunate to have been mentored by the best medical providers this country has to offer. Having a community of people who are willing to listen and work together to improve our babies’ outcomes is the best reason to work at UMC.”
