Meet Victoria Brooks, Director of Nursing Please describe your position. I oversee the healthcare of the babies in our on-site Nursery and provide supervision for the Nursery staff of thirty-two. I'm also responsible for educating the adoptive parents and the birthparents about babies' health issues. What is a typical day like? My day does vary quite a bit. The Nursery operates 24/7, so my hours don't always fit into a typical 9-5 schedule. Each morning I always check in with the Nursery to be aware of any health issues, assessment needs, hospital pick ups, routine appointments or staffing issues. I may be following up with different specialists for certain babies. I also may be speaking with prospective adoptive parents about a particular infant's needs. I work with the adoptive and birthparent counselors so they understand the baby's conditions, and I have spent time with many birthmothers to explain various health concerns. Supervising the Nursery staff requires a lot of attention to ensure continuity of care for the babies as the caregivers change every eight hours. I couldn't function without the truly dedicated Nursery staff. What's the most rewarding part of your job? The most rewarding part of my job is knowing that the babies are receiving the right healthcare and that the Nursery runs smoothly. Also, for each placement, there's a magical moment, the moment when you see that a family is newly created. You know that a new family now exists where it didn't before. What are your biggest challenges? My biggest challenge is the unpredictability of our work. There is not always advanced notice of a baby admission. There can be instant pick up needs or increased staffing needs. When a hospital calls to tell us a baby is ready to be picked up, we need to get there ASAP. Sometimes it's a scramble to find staff. Sometimes the plan is all set, and a pick up is cancelled or delayed with a moment's notice. It's hard to plan when we have such an unpredictable workflow, but that's part of the fun too! Is there a particular case you may share that touched you? I have warm feelings for all of our Cradle babies. The infants who stay in our Nursery for a longer time do create some deeper attachment. All the special needs babies particularly touch my heart. There's a lot of attention, care, and coordination for some conditions. Seeing a challenged baby healthy and smiling, and knowing that The Cradle is here for them, is satisfying beyond words. Where are you from and how did you come to The Cradle? I grew up in the Chicagoland area. I received my BSN from Loyola, and briefly attended an MBA program. I also served in the US Air Force in neonatal nursing, the same field as my civilian career. I saw an ad in the paper for The Cradle, and it seemed like my job experience was pretty much tailor-made for what they were looking for, so I applied. What do you like to do in your spare time? I like to sew, and I like to go on walks.