Choosing U-M

What do you get when a family tradition meets a tradition of excellence?
A nurse with a passion for the tiny patients in the NICU

-

Some people take years to figure out what career they want and where they want to go to college, but Julie Sarkesian knew both answers when she was a high school student in Taylor, Michigan. Julie says, “I wanted to help others, to have a job that was rewarding, important and practical....Nursing was the answer. I chose to go to Michigan because it is the best school in the state and because it has become a family tradition.” Julie’s grandfather, mom, dad, sisters, brother, brothers-in-law, aunts and uncles all attended the University of Michigan.

Halfway through nursing school, Julie made another important decision. She knew she wanted to work in the Holden Neonatal Intensive Care Unit at the University of Michigan C.S. Mott Children’s Hospital. Julie says, “When I learned about neonatal intensive care, I knew right away that I wanted to work there one day. Pregnancy and birth is such a miracle and new life is so inspiring and precious. I knew I wanted to be part of saving these tiny miracles, so I purposely signed up for a clinical in the NICU because I figured it would help my chances of getting a job there.”

Her clinical experience reinforced her decision, and she appreciated the great teamwork of the nurses. “When I started my clinical in the NICU, I was delighted to find out how friendly and welcoming the nurses are. I believe I’m learning from the best.” Julie graduated from U-M’s nursing school in 2005 and joined the Holden staff that June.

Right Person, Right Place
She continues to be happy with her choices. She says, “It is great to be part of Holden’s NICU nursing staff. The nurses in our NICU are very good at helping one another. There is always someone willing to help you, whether you have a question or need an extra hand. The nurses are very good team players.”

Throughout her clinical experience in nursing school and continuing into her career, Julie has been an important part of that team. Pat Quaranto, educational nurse coordinator, Holden NICU, supervised Julie when she was a student, and now works with her on the evening shift. Pat says, “She’s a wonderful member of the NICU team. She consistently demonstrates the desire to acquire knowledge to craft her skills even further. She shows compassion to her patients’ families and is always willing to help out another team member. We are very fortunate to have Julie working with us.”

The Holden medical team takes care of babies from all over the state and even other parts of the country. Approximately 30 percent of the infants are transported in for care, while the remaining 70 percent are delivered in the high-risk delivery rooms. It isn’t uncommon for mothers to have scheduled births at U-M’s birthing center in order to have their babies benefit from the care of the Fetal Diagnosis and Treatment Center and the Holden NICU.

Proud of the “Graduates”
Families frequently bring their babies back to Holden to visit the staff and thank them, and the Holden team is always thrilled to see them. “It’s great to see a preemie come back as a chubby one-year-old who can walk and talk. These are the kinds of outcomes we all hope for,” Julie says.

Unfortunately, cases in the NICU do not always have a happy ending. Julie says, “As nurses, we have a critical role in helping families cope with loss. This isn’t an easy task, but it can be a very meaningful experience. I am grateful for the opportunity to make a difference in people’s lives. Ironically, the most rewarding part of the job is when they leave us. I love when an infant who was very sick finally goes home healthy with his parents. It makes me proud to be a U of M NICU nurse.”