Debra Dobson, RN, Women’s Health, was recognized by Sherry Kwater, MSM, BSN, RN, Chief Nursing Officer, as the May DAISY Award winner on May 7. Here is her story:
“In the Women’s Health Unit we are used to celebrating with the patients and families the birth of a son or daughter. Being able to be with a family for such an important event in their lives is such an amazing experience. Unfortunately, there are times in the Women’s Health Unit when it’s not such a happy event; the time when a patient goes to her regular prenatal appointment and discovers her baby no longer has a heartbeat; the time when she goes for a regularly scheduled ultrasound and discovers her baby has a fatal heart defect or a syndrome that is not compatible with life. These patients eventually end up in labor and delivery.
It takes an amazing, compassionate, empathetic nurse to be able to take the journey with these families to make it as memorable and peaceful as possible. Debbie is one of those nurses. She not only helps them through the grieving process while they are in the hospital but far beyond discharge. She not only includes the patient in her education but the families as well on the process and emotions that they will experience during their grieving so they know what to expect.
I’m sure there are so many stories that could be told of how Debbie has helped a family cope with such a devastating loss. There is one particular story that holds a special place in my heart because the patient is a friend of mine. She was transferred to our unit from another hospital after it was discovered she was very sick with HELLP syndrome and her baby was found to have no heartbeat. The patient was 28 weeks at this time and pregnant with her first boy after having two beautiful girls. She felt at ease as soon as Debbie assumed care for her. She delivered the baby and was immediately overtaken by the grief and hurt any expectant mother would feel as she holds her stillborn baby. The empathy and compassion Debbie used when caring for this patient is why her delivery journey was such an amazing and memorable experience.
This patient’s delivery was approximately 18 months ago and Debbie continues to send cards, call the patient, and write letters. They continue to have an excellent therapeutic relationship. Just on March 13th the patient wrote on facebook “God works in mysterious ways, I was having an emotional day earlier thinking about my son then after work I come home to a beautiful card and letter from the nurse who was with me during my labor with him and has kept in contact with me since. I don’t know if she knows how special she is and how her letters and phone calls come when I need them the most…Thank you Debbie Dobson.”
Debbie continues to go above and beyond helping the families cope with the loss of a child. She takes care of all her patients with clinical expertise and skill. She’s a valuable asset to the healthcare team to meet the needs of her patients and families. Her past experience with grief and mourning makes her a valuable resource and role model to other nurses in our unit. This is just one of the many cases where she has demonstrated that she deserves to be a DAISY award recipient.”