Jenny Croft
The annual University of Akron School of Nursing Cameos of Caring program recognizes exceptional, local nurses for their contributions to health care in Summit County and the surrounding area. On Nov. 12, Akron Children’s recognized Jenny Croft, NICU nurse, as its 2022 recipient for her clinical excellence.
A graduate of the University of Akron, Jenny began her nursing career at Children’s in 2019. She says one of her favorite things about NICU nursing is the opportunity to build relationships with her patients and families through her role as a primary nurse.
“Being a primary nurse entails taking care of babies sometimes from admission all the way through to their discharge,” she said. “I get to advocate and be the primary teacher to families as they navigate the intimidating NICU world.”
As a primary nurse, Jenny is able to observe the subtle differences in her patients that may not be obvious to someone else.
“I’ve seen babies progress, beat odds, accomplish milestones and so much more through my experiences,” she said.
While she didn’t initially go to school to become a nurse, Jenny fell in love with the idea of nursing while completing an internship in cardiac rehab.
“I went to Bowling Green State University where I earned a degree in Exercise Science. I’ve always wanted a career that helps other people, but at the time I was nervous around needles,” she said. “My internship helped cement how much I loved caring for patients, so I decided to challenge myself and further my education with a second degree in nursing. During my pediatrics rotation, I knew I was meant to work with kids.”
According to Jenny’s nomination form, “She is bright and intuitive in the care she delivers to her patients and their families. She is a resource for coworkers and precepts new staff in the unique work of being a NICU nurse. She takes new nurses under her wing and leads them by example and does so in a manner that makes staff want to imitate her. She encourages other nurses to participate in the nursing professional career ladder and serves as a clinical resource in the NICU.”
As a mentor to new nurses and other staff, Jenny says the job is not without its challenges.
“The most challenging part of my job is the emotional stress that comes with neonatal nursing,” she says. “We provide a lot of emotional support which can be difficult and can often make you feel helpless and drained. I’m lucky to have amazing coworkers to lean on during the difficult days.”
Although she was surprised by her Cameos of Caring award, she says being recognized by her peers is an honor.
“I work with so many amazing nurses who are also so deserving,” she said. “I hope to continue to provide the care that got me nominated and look forward to continuing to serve our community and families.”
For more information on Cameos of Caring, visit uakron.edu.
