How NICU RN Emonie Castro found her path
When Emonie Castro, a registered nurse (RN), started her nursing career in adult critical care, she thought she had found her long-term path. Then she discovered the neonatal intensive care unit (NICU) at Golisano Children’s Hospital at Penn State Health Milton S. Hershey Medical Center in Hershey – and everything shifted.
A third-generation nurse, Emonie followed the same calling as her mother and grandmother. “I wanted to be a labor and delivery nurse until my last semester of nursing school,” she said. “We went to the adult ICU, and I thought that was something I was never going to want to do — until clinical.” That experience led her to a hospital with an adult step-down unit where she built a strong critical care foundation. But her heart stayed with mothers and babies, and she still craved the complexity of intensive care.
That mix is what drew her to Hershey. “Rather than doing an internal transfer at my previous job, I wanted to come to Penn State Health’s Level IV NICU. I’m a Penn State grad, so it felt nice to choose Penn State academically and then professionally as well,” she said.
With you every step
Emonie Castro, RN, checks on her patient in the NICU.
Switching from adult to neonatal care can feel intimidating, even for experienced nurses.
“I was nervous about making the transition,” Emonie admitted. “Adult and pediatric worlds are so different. But the nurses who trained me truly made it as easy as possible and really helped facilitate the education process.”
New NICU nurses at Penn State Health Golisano Children’s Hospital go through a structured orientation that blends classroom learning with hands-on experience, including shadowing with lactation, respiratory therapy and unit leadership. “Instead of throwing you into the pediatric world, they show you what it’s all about and make sure you’re not drowning. They really help you swim,” she said.
The support doesn’t end with orientation. Emonie points to the NICU’s formal mentorship program as another layer of backup. “The mentors at Penn State Health guide you professionally and personally through your experience, making sure you’re growing in a good way taking care of yourself mentally and staying open to new learning and career opportunities.”
Growing future NICU nurses
Now, Emonie is one of the nurses helping others make that same leap into NICU nursing. She precepts new graduates, experienced RNs and international nurses joining the team.
“I love precepting,” she said. “It’s so fulfilling to see them grow as nurses and individuals.” This year, she’s also stepping into a formal mentor role after benefitting from one herself early on.
For nurses considering neonatal intensive care, Emonie offers honest advice. “You really do get out of nursing what you put into it,” she said. “It’s important to have a support system, take care of yourself and recognize the value of the work you’re doing.”
Stephanie Truitt looks on as Emonie Castro, a registered nurse, reads to her 10-week-old son Hudson in the Neonatal Intensive Care Unit at Penn State Health Golisano Children’s Hospital as part of a Read-A-Thon event on Friday, Sept. 19, 2025.
What keeps her in the NICU is the impact she sees every day.
“It feels amazing to give kids the gift of growing up, and It’s a privilege to be part of families’ most vulnerable moments and provide the best patient experience you can.”
Beyond the bedside, Emonie serves on the bereavement and patient satisfaction committees and is pursuing her doctorate to become a family nurse practitioner, supported by Penn State Health’s tuition benefits. “Penn State Health makes it hard not to do all those things,” she laughed. “They support you so well and make it as easy as they can for you to thrive academically and professionally.”
Become a NICU RN
If you’re a registered nurse ready for a new chapter in your career, consider NICU opportunities at Penn State Health Golisano Children’s Hospital, where you’ll be supported, challenged and encouraged to grow every step of the way. Explore NICU nursing careers at Golisano Children’s Hospital.
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