HOCC Family Birth Place-Shower Of Love at The Hospital of Central Connecticut
March 2024
HOCC Family Birth Place-Shower Of Love
at The Hospital of Central Connecticut
Family Birth Place
Hospital of Central Connecticut
New Britain
,
CT
United States
Deanna VanLinter RN; Melissa Bengtson, RN CRL; Renee Rasmussen, RN;
Sarah Colbeth-Waterman, RN; Carmen Chan, Patient Care Tech; Rachel McCormack, RN;
Diane Paradis, RN; Valerie Blais, Patient Care Tech; Caren Rice, RN; Jen Petke, RN;
Agnieszka Samsel, RN
Sarah Colbeth-Waterman, RN; Carmen Chan, Patient Care Tech; Rachel McCormack, RN;
Diane Paradis, RN; Valerie Blais, Patient Care Tech; Caren Rice, RN; Jen Petke, RN;
Agnieszka Samsel, RN
FBP nurses were caring for an antepartum patient who had a high risk pregnancy requiring her to be managed inpatient for the last 4-5 weeks of her pregnancy. Being an antepartum patient can be extremely difficult. The patient is not only worried about their current pregnancy, but many things in their life have to be put on hold. If the patient works, then they are no longer able to continue working. If the patient has other children, they have to rely on family and friends to continue to support the children. If they have no partner, this becomes even harder to manage.
This patient had other children at home who required care from her family members, which also made it difficult for her to have visitors. In addition to these stressors, which can be financial and emotional, the requirement of having to stay in the hospital for weeks on end can be difficult to endure. This patient required daily non-stress tests and blood glucose checks to ensure her pregnancy was progressing and the baby was doing well. No matter how difficult the circumstances may have been, our patient was always pleasant and cooperative.
When an antepartum patient stays on the floor for an extended period of time, she tends to have many of the same nurses over and over again. The patient and the nurses form a bond with each other and get to know each other well. Deanna had taken care of this patient many times and suggested we throw her a baby shower the day before she was scheduled to have a c-section. Every nurse on the floor thought this was an amazing idea. We spread the word on the unit and put out a basket to collect gifts in the days leading up to the shower. We decorated our family lounge and purchased diabetic-friendly snacks. The patient’s nurse asked her to come to the family lounge, where we surprised her with a baby shower. The patient was surprised, happy, and very appreciative. We had her open presents and enjoyed some time with her. Several night shift nurses came in before their shift, and dayshift nurses made sure they had rounded on their patients so they could take a moment to celebrate with this patient we had all come to know. Throwing this baby shower for our patient exemplifies HHC's value of caring. The nurses are always doing the right thing in the professional care they give to patients but they took it a step further by showing kindness and support through a difficult time.
This patient had other children at home who required care from her family members, which also made it difficult for her to have visitors. In addition to these stressors, which can be financial and emotional, the requirement of having to stay in the hospital for weeks on end can be difficult to endure. This patient required daily non-stress tests and blood glucose checks to ensure her pregnancy was progressing and the baby was doing well. No matter how difficult the circumstances may have been, our patient was always pleasant and cooperative.
When an antepartum patient stays on the floor for an extended period of time, she tends to have many of the same nurses over and over again. The patient and the nurses form a bond with each other and get to know each other well. Deanna had taken care of this patient many times and suggested we throw her a baby shower the day before she was scheduled to have a c-section. Every nurse on the floor thought this was an amazing idea. We spread the word on the unit and put out a basket to collect gifts in the days leading up to the shower. We decorated our family lounge and purchased diabetic-friendly snacks. The patient’s nurse asked her to come to the family lounge, where we surprised her with a baby shower. The patient was surprised, happy, and very appreciative. We had her open presents and enjoyed some time with her. Several night shift nurses came in before their shift, and dayshift nurses made sure they had rounded on their patients so they could take a moment to celebrate with this patient we had all come to know. Throwing this baby shower for our patient exemplifies HHC's value of caring. The nurses are always doing the right thing in the professional care they give to patients but they took it a step further by showing kindness and support through a difficult time.