Jennifer Pacheco, MSN, RNC-OB

While caring for a readmitted postpartum mother, Jen Pacheco noticed that the patient’s 6-day-old infant, who was not a patient, was jaundiced. Jen used her acute assessment skills when observing the baby and advocated for the baby by calling the pediatrician. Jen obtained an order to draw a STAT lab on the baby. The results were extremely critical, almost to the point of needing an exchange transfusion. The baby was quickly admitted to the NICU for Bili light treatment.

Jen knew by sight and by talking to the mother that this baby was ill. Jen was persistent in advocating and followed through as she watched for the critical results to come through. The baby could have ended up with devastating kernicterus if left untreated with an extremely elevated bilirubin. Since the mother was already admitted, it would have been very easy for this family to miss their primary care provider appointment later in the day.

Jen exemplifies what it takes to be a DAISY Nurse. She would say she was just doing her job providing remarkable care; however, in this incident, she provided exemplary, remarkable care, and this family has expressed extreme gratitude for Jen.