From Colleagues to Lifelong Friends

Building a career you love with friends by your side is possible at Lehigh Valley Health Network (LVHN). For Kelli Hartman, RN, and Nancy Caciolo, RN, that was exactly what they found when their paths crossed at Lehigh Valley Hospital (LVH)–Cedar Crest.

Growing up, Hartman thought she wanted to be a teacher. But when her grandmother became ill with dementia, Hartman found herself spending more time volunteering at the adult day care center she went to.

“I knew I wanted to be a nurse at that moment because my grandmother had such caring and compassionate people helping her through that journey,” Hartman says.

Caciolo, on the other hand, always knew she wanted to be a caregiver. Attending nursing school confirmed her nursing career choice and allowed her to discover which specialty she enjoyed most during clinical rotations. 

Grateful for the knowledge and training they acquired through nursing school and working in different specialties, all roads eventually led them to obstetrics at LVHN. In 2006, Hartman and Caciolo met as colleagues on the mother-baby unit at LVH–Cedar Crest.

“When I first started, I connected with Nancy right away. She’s a great leader, took me under her wings and molded me into who I am,” Hartman says.

“We became friends right from the start and remained close friends all these years even outside of work,” Caciolo says. “Kelli is an excellent nurse and she’s always willing to help.”

Teamwork is at the heart of everything on the mother-baby unit. In their roles, Hartman and Caciolo serve as the core charge nurse during a shift or as a staff nurse providing couplet care to mothers and their newborns. From guiding new parents through their first feeding to managing critical situations like postpartum hemorrhage, the team’s collaboration leads to better outcomes and better experiences.

“From the moment I walked through the doors at LVHN, everyone was very supportive and wanted to give you the best experience and opportunities for growth.” - Kelli Hartman, RN 

Advocating for patients and supporting colleagues are Hartman’s and Caciolo’s top priorities. Every postpartum experience looks different, and each night shift has its challenges, but the one constant is the tender care they both provide to every family and colleague.

“The connections we make with mothers and their newborns are so special. I’m grateful to be part of the team on the mother-baby unit,” Caciolo says.

A core charge nurse is the team’s go-to resource. They’re experienced nurses who guide and support their colleagues and patients every step of the way. As the leader of the team, a core charge nurse is responsible for setting the tone every shift. Hartman and Caciolo are known for motivating, inspiring and empowering their colleagues. 

“Core charge nurses make sure our patients are safe, our team is supported and communicate effectively with leadership,” says Kimberly Galluzzo, MSN, Director of Patient Care Services. “I’ve had the privilege to work alongside Nancy and Kelli and they always stood out as committed role models and valuable resources. As a newer nurse and now as their leader, I trust their knowledge and decision making.”

Effective communication with colleagues and collaboration with other departments are critical to deliver care where patients feel seen and heard.

“When we work together, we provide the highest quality of care to our patients,” Hartman says.

Coming from a small hospital where there were about 40 births a month to her position now at LVH–Cedar Crest where there are about 250 births a month was a big change for Hartman. But that career move became one of her best decisions.

“From the moment I walked through the doors at LVHN, everyone was very supportive and wanted to give you the best experience and opportunities for growth,” Hartman says.

Hartman is very happy with where she is since joining LVHN 19 years ago. Now she has the opportunity to earn nursing certifications and access to PRIME (Program for Recognition for Individual Merit and Excellence), a clinical ladder program that recognizes nurses for engagement, professional development and high-quality care.

In 2011, Hartman won the Friends of Nursing Award for Excellence in Obstetrics Care. She gives credit to Caciolo for being an important colleague and friend who helped her achieve this milestone.

Thirty-nine years after joining LVHN, Caciolo says she’s still learning something new every day.

There are many ways Hartman and Caciolo have supported each other over the 19 years they’ve worked together. But one moment in particular stands out to Caciolo.

About a year ago, Caciolo lost her two siblings unexpectedly. “The support Kelli gave me during those rough moments was so heartfelt and meaningful,” Caciolo says.

Years prior, Hartman was sick with preeclampsia when she had her son. “Things were tough, but Nancy was in the labor room after my son was born, and I knew things were going to be OK,” Hartman says.

Hartman and Caciolo exemplify our shared calling, a nursing culture where we learn from one another and grow stronger together. Their story reminds us that in nursing, the most powerful care begins with connection.