... a patient called and was unsure if she was laboring and explained that she was experiencing contractions since 2230 and had bloody discharge. Christie triaged the call and suggested the patient come in to verify any cervical dilation. The patient, travelling from the Greenwood, WI area, agreed and said she would come in. Because the patient was premature, NICU was called with a heads up on the situation.

The patient didn't come right away and we were wondering where she was. Then around 0335, the patient called again and said she was on her way and nearing the Spencer area. She had waited for her boyfriend to get home from his work before they started to come to the hospital. She happened to again talk to Christie telling her that she was feeling the urge to push. Christie talked to her in a calm and reassuring yet firm manner and urged her NOT to push. Christie told the patient to stay on the phone and not hang up until she got to the unit. Christie breathed through every contraction via the phone with this patient to keep her from pushing and delivering a premature infant in the car.

Peer staff updated Dr. J who was busy with many laboring moms that night. They also alerted the ED to give them a heads up of the patient who was on her way and told them to put the patient on a cart and send her over to the unit right away. NICU was called and again updated.

Around 0400 the patient who had stayed on the phone with Christie, told her she was at the ED entrance. Staff met the ED staff in order to get her directly into the high risk delivery room, continuing to coach her to breathe through every contraction and the urges to push. Once we got to the back double doors of L&D, the patient said, "My water just broke." Sure enough it had. We met Dr. J in the LDR hallway-a quick assessment was done and into the high risk room we went. During all of this, Christie (at the LDR desk) had called NICU to come and set up in the Resuscitation Room while also getting the support person (father of the baby) a gown and into the high risk room. Throughout, Christie kept her cool and explained to the patient to continue breathing and listen to what the doctor instructed her to do.

The patient pushed 2 more times and delivered at 0405; NICU was present to assist the preterm baby. The patient was grateful she had Christie on the phone to coach her not to push and tell her what to do until she was in our care. The patient was so pleased with her care once she got to SJH; she thanked us repeatedly and apologized for not coming sooner. Her direct words were: "She was awesome! If she hadn't been on the phone, I would have delivered this baby in the front seat!"

None of this would have been possible without the quick action and critical thinking of experienced nurse Christie. When the emergent situation was evident, she acted quickly, accurately and effectively.

Over and over, we have seen Christie handle stressful situations under pressure multiple times with a positive and healthy outcome. We are grateful to get to work alongside her and learn from her massive amount of wisdom. She is a shining example of what it takes to make a unit strong with her optimistic attitude, strong work ethic, organized delegation and quick action critical thinking.