A Nurse, a Preemie and a NICU Bond That Grew Stronger by the Day

When you meet Arianna Guerino, RN, BSN, you quickly realize that nursing is more than her career – it’s her calling. A charge nurse in Lehigh Valley Health Network (LVHN)’s Level IV neonatal intensive care unit (NICU), located at Lehigh Valley Hospital–Cedar Crest, Guerino blends skill, compassion and innovation to improve outcomes for the tiniest, most vulnerable patients and their families.

Guerino is a Lehigh Valley local whose heart-led leadership, clinical excellence and creativity reflect the spirit of nursing at LVHN: Teamwork and Compassion, Nurse-Led Innovation, Support and Communication, and Professional Development and Career Advancement.

In early 2025, a baby girl named Eddi was born at just 24 weeks and one day gestation – so small she weighed barely more than 1 pound. Guerino was there from her first minute.

“I was in the OR during her delivery and walked her dad, Alex, up to meet her for the first time,” Guerino recalls. “He broke down in the elevator, and I just held space for that moment. That’s what nursing is too, being present in the scariest times.”

Over the months that followed, Guerino became one of Eddi’s primary caregivers and formed a lasting bond with her parents, Kai and Alex. They were at the bedside daily, unwavering in their love and optimism, and Guerino matched that devotion with steadfast care and encouragement.

One moment stands out above the rest: “Eddi was born Jan. 13, but Kai didn’t get to hold her until Feb. 5,” Guerino says. “I got to place her in Kai’s arms for the first time – through all the wires and tubes. There wasn’t a dry eye in the room. That’s the kind of moment that stays with you forever.”

In the NICU, milestones are everything – first time off oxygen, first outfit, first bottle. Guerino lives for these victories.

“It’s not just about the medical care,” she says. “It’s about the first time a parent gets to hold their baby or see them without a breathing tube. Those moments are huge, and NICU nurses are the ones helping families get there.”

That emotional connection is what keeps her grounded in the mission. “You’re not just giving medications,” Guerino says. “You’re holding hands, passing tissues, celebrating wins and grieving setbacks, all with the families.”

Guerino began her LVHN journey in 2018 as a new graduate on a neuroscience unit. In 2020, she followed her heart to the NICU and quickly became a leader known for collaboration and creativity. She’s helped reimagine team workflows – revamping the unit’s daily huddle board and breast milk tracking process to be more efficient and uplifting. These changes, developed with input from her peers, are a testament to nurse-led innovation in action.

“She brings joy to high-stress work and always has solutions,” says Warren Furry, BSN, Director of Clinical Services for the NICU. “Arianna creates an environment where everyone feels seen, including patients, parents and peers.”

Guerino’s journey at LVHN has been marked by continual growth and purpose. From student nurse to NICU nurse leader, she’s been surrounded by mentors and supported with the tools to shine.

“I try to be the nurse I looked up to when I was starting out,” she says. “And I remind myself every day – this is why I come back.” The connections, the milestones, the families, those are the reasons she stays.

Guerino’s story reflects what’s possible at LVHN – where nurses are trusted, empowered and celebrated for the lives they help shape.