Michele L. Trautman, BSN, RNC-NIC
Michele L. Trautman, BSN, RNC-NIC, is a highly skilled neonatal intensive care nurse with 14 years of nursing experience, including 12 years dedicated to NICU care. She has spent the past 11 years at UPMC Harrisburg, where she has become a respected advocate for critically ill and premature infants. Michele earned her Bachelor of Science in Nursing from Pennsylvania College of Nursing and Health Sciences and has continued advancing her expertise through specialized certifications and leadership roles, including serving as a NICU nurse educator for two years. She is currently pursuing her extremely low birth weight infant certification, focusing on the care of infants born under 28 weeks gestation and weighing less than 1,000 grams.
Michele’s passion for neonatal nursing is deeply personal. Inspired by her nephew, who was born with multiple congenital anomalies, she was drawn to caring for patients who cannot advocate for themselves and supporting families during some of the most difficult moments of their lives. Her commitment to evidence-based practice and patient safety has led her to actively participate in quality improvement initiatives and clinical research. She presented a gastric residual research project at the Magnet Conference in 2016 and is currently leading a placenta lab draw initiative aimed at reducing blood transfusions in critically premature infants. In recognition of her dedication to patient care and innovation, Michele received the Richard Simmons Patient Safety Award in 2025.
An expert-level clinician and active member of the National Association of Neonatal Nurses, Michele is known for her compassion, leadership, and dedication to lifelong learning. She values the ever-evolving challenges of NICU nursing and embraces every opportunity to improve outcomes for her patients. For Michele, the most rewarding aspect of her career is witnessing the long-term success of the babies and families she has cared for. Many families have remained in touch long after discharge, and some former NICU patients have even attended milestones in her personal life, reflecting the lasting bonds she forms through her work. Looking ahead, Michele is considering pursuing a master’s degree to become a family nurse practitioner while continuing her mission of advocacy and excellence in neonatal care.
• Associates - Pennsylvania College of Nursing and Health Sciences - 2011
• Bachelors - Pennsylvania College of Nursing and Health Sciences - 2014
• RNC-NIC
• Richard Simmons Patient Safety Award - 2025
• NANN (National Association of Neonatal Nurses)
No publications yet, but presented a gastric residual project at the Magnet Conference in 2016. Currently working on a placenta lab draw project that she hopes to publish after completion to help improve care for extremely low birth weight babies and decrease the need for blood transfusions in the first 28 days of life.
Areas of Specialization/Expertise
- NICU
- Adult Cardiac
- Extremely Low Birth Weight Infant Care
What do you enjoy most about practicing medicine?
I love that I'm challenged every day, even though I've been in the NICU for 11 years now. I'm constantly learning - there's always something that I haven't seen, and it challenges my critical thinking skills. It's always busy, so I'm never bored at my job by any means. I love that I have a voice, specifically at our hospital here where it's a magnet hospital, so I can do evidence-based practice research and quality improvement projects. I love that I make a lasting impact on not only my patients but their families as well, and that's truly special to me. The most rewarding part is being able to see the impact I have on these families and babies, watching them grow up and seeing how well they're doing - it's honestly the best thing in the world.