A pregnant patient sought care for her second pregnancy. Her first pregnancy was extremely high-risk and traumatic for her family. She recently learned that her current fetus has the same medical condition as her first baby had in utero. This condition could potentially limit the child's lifespan and may require bedside surgery at the time of birth. During the delivery of her first baby, the infant experienced several life-threatening situations in front of the parents. Understandably, the expecting mother came to the clinic behaving erratically, screaming, and expressing thoughts of harming herself and/or the fetus to avoid going through the same ordeal again. We arranged for an integrated health therapist to speak with the patient, but she became verbally aggressive, causing distress to the therapist. Despite this, Kayleigh stepped in immediately and spent over an hour alone with the patient until a suicide safety plan was established.

Kayleigh showed remarkable empathy, understanding the challenges the patient faces with disabled children. The patient left much calmer than when she arrived, thanks to Kayleigh's dedicated support. Kayleigh continued to follow up with the patient, arranging weekly visits for her specific needs, such as non-stress tests, to maintain open communication and trust. Kayleigh's compassionate approach helped the patient come to terms with her current condition, demonstrating just one example of the positive impact she has on patients' lives. She is truly a remarkable nurse and clinical leader, showing an exceptional level of empathy, compassion, and knowledge, especially considering this is her first year in registered nursing.