Bethany saved a life. She was our labor nurse during the induction of our son. Her care started when we arrived for an induction and continued the next day. We quickly knew that we were in excellent hands. Having had 2 kids already, we understood just how important good nurses are and she seemed to fit the bill right out of the gate.

Our baby’s heart rate would occasionally drop during contractions, and she would immediately come in and have mom change positions. This offered temporary relief, but it continued to happen throughout the day. She watched our baby's heart rate monitor like a hawk. At one point, our baby’s heart rate dropped during contractions and would not stay normal no matter what position mom was in. At this point, Bethany advocated to check the cervix to see what progress was being made. Only 5 cm but she also felt something that she had never felt before. She immediately requested that the doctor check, but he didn’t feel anything abnormal until she specifically, with profound dictation, insisted that the doctor check again… umbilical cord prolapse. This meant an emergency c-section was required.

Immediately and without hesitation, she was in action. Bethany boldly announced that she would ride along with Mom and hopped on Mom’s bed so she could hold our baby’s head off of the cord as we raced to the OR. Even under pressure, she remained cognizant of Mom’s emotional needs. She held the baby’s head off of his cord with one hand and held mom’s hand with her other hand as we rolled to the OR, assuring mom along the way that she’d be there throughout the surgery. She continued to assure Mom of her presence after arriving in the OR as Mom got hooked up to the monitors. It was a frightening time for both mom and dad but we knew she was there and the bonds we made over the previous days brought some comfort to us both.

The surgery helped mom give birth to a healthy baby boy. Bethany provided excellent care for the newborn and helped mom through her initial recovery and stayed hours past the end of her shift. We cannot thank her enough. Her ability to keep calm under pressure, to provide clear and direct communication (to the doctor, to other nurses, and to us), and to recognize and act decisively to address the situation were all deciding factors in the outcome. Her combination of strong technical and interpersonal skills is unique. Her heroics and advocacy on behalf of the patient (us) were truly astounding and certainly above and beyond. It is unlikely we would have had the same outcome if it wasn’t for her.