Nurses in the PCCC

Our nurses in the Pediatric Cardiac Care Center receive specialized ICU training specific to pediatric cardiac care. In addition, all nurses remain certified in BLS and PALS and receive on-going education throughout their tenure in the PICU and in the PCCC. They are compassionate and seek to provide top notch patient- and family-centered care, as they recognize that a child's admission to the unit can affect the entire family. In order to provide the highest-quality care, nurses are generally assigned to care for only one or two intensive care patients at a time. Nurses respond to your family's needs as well, providing support, answering questions, and keeping you up-to-date on your child's progress and treatment plans.

PCCC Nurse Manager & Assistant Nurse Managers

The Nurse Manager and Assistant Nurse Managers provide oversight and leadership to the unit and are available to discuss your child’s needs, nursing care, and hospital services.

• Jennifer Villanueva, M.S.N., R.N., CCRN, C.N.L., Senior Nurse Manager
  Jenn Villanueva received her nursing degree from the University of Buffalo. She completed her Clinical Nurse Leader Master’s program at the University of Rochester. She worked in a variety of pediatric critical care units, including Boston Children’s Hospital and Children’s Hospital of Atlanta before joining the PCCC as a bedside nurse and then the unit’s Care Coordinator. She became Nurse Manager in December 2018.
• Jessica Milnikiewicz, B.S.N., R.N., CCRN, Senior Assistant Nurse Manager
  Jess Milnikiewicz received her nursing degree from Binghamton University. She began her nursing career in Adult Critical Care before transitioning to the PCCC. Jess is currently pursuing her Clinical Nurse Leader Master’s degree at the University of Rochester.
• Jenna Cook, B.A., B..SN., R.N., CCRN, Assistant Nurse Manager
  Jenna Cook received her nursing degree from the University of Rochester. She began her nursing career in the Adult Heart Failure Unit before transitioning to the PCCC. Jenna is currently pursuing her Clinical Nurse Leader Master’s degree at the University of Rochester.
• Marissa Yetter, R.N., B.S.N., CCRN, Assistant Nurse Manager
  Marissa Yetter received her nursing degree from St. John Fisher College. She began her nursing career in the PCCC as a bedside nurse. Marissa is currently pursuing her Clinical Nurse Leader Master’s degree at the University of Rochester.
• Amanda Welter, R.N., B..SN., CCRN, Assistant Nurse Manager
  Amanda received a Bachelor’s degree in Biomedical Sciences from Rochester Institute of Technology and her nursing degree from the University of Rochester. She began her nursing career in the PCCC as a bedside nurse. Amanda is currently pursuing her Clinical Nurse Leader Master's degree at the University of Rochester.

Nurse Educator/Clinical Nurse Leader

The Nurse Educator/Clinical Nurse Leader is a nurse with an advanced degree that is the administrator for the clinical development of staff and is a clinical expert.

• Alexandra Dixon, MS, RN, CCRN-K, Senior Nurse Educator
  Alex Dixon received her nursing degree from East Carolina University and her Master’s degree in Nursing Education from Roberts Wesleyan College. She began her nursing career in the PCCC where she has assumed numerous leadership roles.

Charge Nurses

Charge Nurses coordinate unit staffing, arrange patient assignments, and are able to help with any issues that may arise in the unit.

Registered Nurses (RNs)

Our nurses are highly valued for their skills and are often the first line communicators with regard to your child's care. All of our Pediatric Intensive Care Nurses are Registered Nurses (RNs) and are licensed by New York State. RNs have graduated from a college-level nursing program and have passed a national licensing exam.

Care Coordinators

A Care Coordinator is a nurse that assists in the complicated transfer of patients, including discharges, admissions, and transfers to the general care units.