Historical Perspectives

Abstract

In 1960, Cathy Cropley graduated from the University of Washington, Phi Beta Kappa key in hand, and began a career that was to cover a time span from when nurses were considered functionaries to the time they became true partners in developing units and providing care. Nowhere is this truer than in the world of the neonatal intensive care unit (NICU). Cathy's first job was as a staff nurse in obstetrics at the University Hospital of the University of Washington in Seattle. One year later, she was appointed head nurse of the newborn nursery (there was no NICU in the hospital at that time). In 1962, Tim Oliver, MD, one of the pioneers in neonatology, joined the faculty of the University with the goal of creating a NICU and a new Division of Neonatology. Cathy was selected to be his head nurse. Because there were very few NICUs at that time, Cathy and the rest of the staff nurses had no familiarity with the type of unit they were going to develop. As Dr Oliver began to mold the unit and teach the nurses and housestaff …