Published on October 31, 2024
NICU Nurses Create Lasting Memories With Costumes
Every Halloween, Owensboro Health Regional Hospital’s NICU team creates handmade costumes for each precious patient. The nurses, especially those who enjoy crafting, put together costumes to bring a holiday moment to families.
“All of the nurses are crafty,” says Stephanie Tuell, the unit’s manager. “This year, they’ve really gone all out—we even have a Taylor Swift costume that’s fully beaded.”
For families with babies in intensive care, Halloween costumes allow parents to enjoy a holiday tradition. “It brings joy to the family,” Tuell explains. “These are the things parents would be doing if they weren’t here, and we get to help them still have those moments.”
The NICU nurses design the costumes with each baby’s comfort and safety in mind. Since babies are connected to monitors and medical equipment, most costumes are made from soft felt placed gently around the babies without disturbing wires.
This year’s costumes include twin fairytale princesses and pop culture icons like Barbie, each crafted to feel unique. “New costumes are crafted every year,” says Tuell.
Additionally, the team has a cabinet stocked with felt, craft paper and supplies to make costumes and decorations. “We also did a ‘Trick or Treat, Smell My Feet’ sign with the babies’ footprints in green as little Frankenstein feet,” Tuell shares. The team also uses those supplies to craft special signs with each baby’s name to decorate their room.
Owensboro Health is here to care for your family in ways that go beyond traditional medicine. The Level III NICU provides care for premature and critically ill infants, including those as small as 27 weeks. The staff is equipped to handle a range of needs, including respiratory support, specialized feeding and surgery if needed. But every day - not just on Halloween - the focus also includes creating special moments for families during a time when they need it most.
About Owensboro Health
Owensboro Health is a nonprofit health system with a mission to heal the sick and to improve the health of the communities it serves in Kentucky and Indiana. The system includes Owensboro Health Regional Hospital, nationally recognized for design, architecture and engineering; Owensboro Health Muhlenberg Community Hospital; Owensboro Health Twin Lakes Medical Center; the Owensboro Health Medical Group comprised of over 350 providers at more than 30 locations; three outpatient Healthplex facilities, a certified medical fitness facility, the Healthpark; a weight management program, and the Mitchell Memorial Cancer Center.
On average each year, we have more than 19,000 inpatient admissions, deliver 2,000 babies and provide the region’s only Level III NICU. Owensboro Health physicians perform nearly 33,000 surgical procedures, including nearly 150 open-heart surgeries. Our physicians and staff have 90,000 Emergency Department visits and more than 1.25 million outpatient visits annually. Visit our home page for more information.