Elisabeth N Miller, RN

Elisabeth provided exceptional care to a very sick postpartum patient. This patient has autism and displayed anxious outbursts during her hospitalization. Her situation was also complicated by insufficient prenatal care and CPS involvement with her other children. The patient underwent an emergent c-section for twins, and one baby ended up transferred to the SMCS NICU. The day after her c-section, this patient had very significant postpartum complications. She had a witnessed seizure and later had severe abdominal pain. She ultimately required a hysterectomy and ended up in the ICU for five days due to hemorrhagic shock. Elisabeth cared for this patient the day that she experienced these significant complications. Elisabeth was attentive to the patient at the bedside throughout her shift and was very quick to notice changes in the patient's condition. The patient's earlier anxious outbursts did not cloud her clinical judgment, and she got her patient the emergent care she needed when in distress. She responded quickly to the patient's changes in condition and called two appropriate rapid responses when needed. We all hope that a postpartum recovery period is smooth and without complications. When that isn't the case, and when life-threatening complications arise, having a nurse like Elisabeth makes all the difference.