Disrupting the Status Quo of Skin to Skin Care in the NICU

Alexis Schultz began her nursing career at a local children’s rehabilitation hospital, where she cared for former NICU patients as they continued to grow and develop. In this role, she supported infants working toward thermoregulation, feeding progression, and respiratory stability. After two years as a Registered Nurse, she transitioned to GBMC to further develop her expertise in neonatal intensive care.

Throughout her career, she has been deeply committed to engaging families as active participants in their infant’s care, with a particular focus on promoting skin-to-skin contact as a foundational practice. She strives to support, educate, and empower families during what is often an unexpected and stressful NICU experience. This dedication to family-centered care was recognized in 2016 when she received GBMC’s Art of Nursing: Family-Centered Care award.

While serving as co-interim NICU manager from 2023 to 2024, she utilized GBMC’s Lean management system to evaluate and enhance skin-to-skin practices, contributing to improvements in early initiation and strengthening family involvement in care delivery.

Kaitlin Leland was hired as the Neonatal Nurse Education Specialist after spending five years as a bedside nurse in a Level IV NICU. One of her first responsibilities in this role was to develop and implement education on performing a safe standing transfer for parents to hold their infants skin-to-skin.

Working collaboratively with the NICU Leadership team, neonatologists, and advanced practice providers, Kaitlin and her team designed and facilitated a simulation using a standardized patient. This multidisciplinary approach allowed them to create a realistic learning experience that prepared staff to safely support families during one of the most meaningful moments of their NICU journey.

Nursing is Kaitlin's second career. Prior to becoming a nurse, she was an NCAA Division I women's lacrosse coach. Coaching taught her that confidence is built through teamwork, repetition, and deliberate practice. She has carried those principles into nursing education, where simulation provides a safe, low-pressure environment for staff to develop technical skills, strengthen communication, and build confidence. By practicing together before encountering real clinical situations, her team was better prepared to safely assist parents in holding their infants’ skin-to-skin.

Kristine Baker is a second career nurse. She began her nursing career as a nursing student on a med-surg unit and transitioned to a bedside nurse. She knew early on that she wanted to be a NICU nurse and an opportunity arrived for her about 18 months after I became a nurse. She worked at 2 other hospitals before coming to GBMC, where she currently works. GBMC has helped to develop her nursing skills and provided her with growth opportunities.

Kristine served as interim manager before moving to the position officially. She worked on the skin-to-skin best practices and helped to create some positive changes with the team utilizing our Lean Management System (LMS). 

Theresa Breitenbach began her nursing career in the Pediatric Intensive Care Unit (PICU) at the University of Maryland Medical Center, but she always knew her passion was neonatal care. As a NICU nurse, she is dedicated to providing exceptional, family-centered care by partnering with families, encouraging their active involvement in infant care, and supporting parent-infant bonding during the NICU journey.

She is passionate about promoting infant growth and development while empowering families through education and engagement. Her commitment to excellence in nursing care has been recognized with the Clinician of the Year Award and being named Maryland's Best Pediatric Nurse in 2020.

During her time as Interim NICU Manager from 2023 to 2024, she utilized GBMC's Lean Management System to lead initiatives that improved skin-to-skin care practices, increasing early initiation of skin-to-skin contact and strengthening family involvement in care. She remains committed to advancing evidence-based practices, fostering meaningful family partnerships, and delivering the highest level of care to infants and their families.