St John of God Subiaco Hospital's NICU program spotlighted internationally

29 May 2024

Introduced last May by NICU Clinical Nurse Educator Christine Heald, the program has been making a profound impact to the lives of families in St John of God Subiaco Hospital's NICU.

The program centres on a unique concept where babies receive colourful beads to represent the events and milestones they have achieved while in the NICU, as well as the procedures they have undergone. The beads are then strung together, transforming into a beautiful memento that narrates the journey of each baby.

Christine and NICU Nurse Unit Manager Vini Brehaut recently travelled to Aalborg, Denmark, where they were invited to present at the Council of International Neonatal Nurses Conference (COINN). Christine’s poster presentation shared insights into the impact of the Tiny Star Beads Program on their NICU.

Now as they celebrate the program’s one-year anniversary at the hospital, we are thrilled to share the overwhelmingly positive feedback from our Subiaco families. According to results of a survey they recently conducted:

• 90% found the beads useful in describing the NICU journey to family and friends.
• 87% found it beneficial for understanding their baby’s admission.
• 77% stated that it improved communication with caregivers.

But that's not all! Christine's research is gaining recognition. She has been accepted to present her findings at the Australian College of Neonatal Nurses (ACNN) in Melbourne this September.

St John of God Subiaco Hospital's Tiny Star Beads Program stands as a shining example of compassion, showing that a small gesture can have a profound impact on the lives of the most vulnerable. By turning hardship into hope, the hospital is ensuring that this chapter in the lives of families is remembered not as a sad time but as a positive experience.