One of Yale-New Haven Hospital's firsts

I read with great interest the supplement to the Sunday edition of the New Haven Register on Yale-New Haven Hospital. While my story may not be dramatic or historical, I wanted to at least tell you of how I came full circle into the YNHH "Family."

My first introduction to YNHH was in 1965. I was a scared five-year-old entering the hospital for the first time since my birth there to have my tonsils and adenoids removed. Back then, the surgery was a three-day hospital stay. I recall entering the main part of the hospital through the Howard Avenue entrance (which is now the entrance to the Dana clinics) and being admitted to the pediatric unit, either Tompkins or Fitkin. I remember being in a four-bedroom "ward." Parents were not allowed to room in, but my dad slept on two captains' chairs during my stay so that I would not wake up and not see him there. My most vivid memory of that ordeal was that of my dad giving me my first Barbie doll after I came out of surgery.

Many years later, I decided to pursue a career in nursing. Throughout my education, there was only one place in my mind where I would practice: Yale-New Haven Hospital. I applied to only YNHH and was recruited by Ann LaCamera, RN. YNHH allowed nurses a tremendous amount of autonomy, and the Primary Nurse concept appealed to me. I have countless memories, some good and some bad, of events during my 10 years as a staff nurse there, and if given the opportunity, I would not change one of them! I have had the honor and privilege of caring for many sick patients and their families, some of whom have passed away and others I run into from time to time who remember me as "their" nurse. My nieces were both born there, and my in-laws were cared for on the oncology unit, but one thing remained constant: the outstanding nursing care that they all received.

Since then, I have seen many changes in nursing, and as a result, with much encouragement from my nurse managers and YNHH's encouragement for advancement, I was able to complete my Master's of Science degree and now practice as a nurse practitioner. I am proud to say that I am one of Yale-New Haven's "firsts," as I am the first nurse practitioner to have been granted hospital privileges in the department of OB/GYN—something that was traditionally granted only to nurse midwives!

My career has truly come full circle as I remain an adjunct professor in nursing at Southern Connecticut State University, and I am fortunate enough to have students who will gain experience and knowledge at the best teaching institution that I know of—Yale-New Haven Hospital!

Vanessa Pomarico-Denino, MSN, APRN
Wallingford, Conn.