Brian F. Whaley, MSN, RN, NNP-BC
Neonatal Nurse Practitioner
Neonatal Intensive Care Unit
The Monroe Carell Jr. Children's Hospital at Gateway Medical Center
I provide delivery room coverage for all high risk deliveries including preterm deliveries, C-sections, shoulder dystocias and any delivery that recommends an advanced practice provider in attendance. In addition to managing all NICU admissions, daily care and discharges, I also perform any advanced procedures such as intubations, umbilical lines, lumbar punctures, chest tubes and needle aspirations, respiratory support and ventilation management. In addition, I provide support roles and consults for the Pediatricians. For any infant below 32 weeks gestation or any infant needing more advanced care, we provide initial stabilization and arrange transport to the NICU at MCJCH at Vanderbilt. We work one- on-one with our Neonatologists, Pediatricians, & OBGYN physicians in our provision of care providing 24/7 coverage in our NICU.
The APRNs are well respected and appreciated in the Clarksville community. Due to Gateways continued Level 2 NICU presence, we are able to provide advanced and emergent care when needed and maintain and treat stable infants in the local community facility. With more than 200 NICU admissions per year, our APRN community presence allows parents/families increased visitation and strong bonding opportunities while avoiding much of the distance and traffic associated with travel to and from Nashville. APRNs also provide staff education including Neonatal Resuscitation and STABLE classes.
The Gateway NNP/APRN group participates in Vermont Oxford Network/TIPQC studies. We also have a continued presence in national NANN/NANNP (National Association of Neonatal Nurses/Nurse Practitioners) with one of our APRNs, Roxanne Stahl, involved in the national organizations. This presence keeps us on the forefront of the drafting and implementation of policies, procedures, guidelines and polity regarding neonatal care. I am excited to join the Vanderbilt NNP team to provide further validation and support to our presence at Gateway Medical Center.
I was born in Knoxville, TN. I graduated from The University of Tennessee with a BA in Theater and Religious Studies. I have had the opportunity to work and travel domestically and overseas many times including Central and South America, Africa and Asia. I lived in South Korea for 3 years teaching conversational English to High School and University students and have taken multiple trips to provide medical care with refugee and indigenous populations. My passion is providing medical care and education within the 3rd world and working with indigenous people groups. I have been married for 19 years to my spouse, Melissa. Melissa has her Masters of Divinity from Wake Forest University and serves as a hospice chaplain. I have two children; Morgan, 11 years old and Brennan, 6 years old. We adopted Morgan Suvali from India at 13 months of age. She has special needs related to microcephaly. She is currently a 5th grader. Our son, Brennan is, in kindergarten. We have lived in Clarksville for 3 years. In addition to occasional travel, I love hiking, enjoying nature, Doctor Who and other sci-fi programs and folk/bluegrass music.
My publications include Familial Hemophagocytic Lymphohistiocytosis in the Neonate, Advances in Neonatal Care, 2011; 11(2); 101-107.