I would like to share one of a kind and the happiest experience working at NCH NICU and newborn nursery.
NICU nurse Lindsey was working at the night shift in newborn nursery. She assumed care of a newborn child who was apparently very stable even to the pediatrician and day shift nurses. However, her vigilant observation and clinical skills picked up very subtle but important signals of a potential danger to this newborn child. She called the pediatrician and expressed her concerns, although her request to do any work up was denied.
Lindsey was so persistent and proactive that she decided to call the pediatrician again and convinced him to get baseline lab work done. The lab work was grossly abnormal and still her opinion was put to the ground by the pediatrician saying that the baby is doing well. But Lindsey decided to be the patient advocate and called me (neonatologist) at almost 1 am in the morning and asked me to come and examine this apparently well looking newborn baby. I agreed with Lindsey’s findings and transferred the baby to the NICU.
In few hours of work up, we diagnosed that baby having potentially very fatal tumor (teratoma) in the pelvis. The baby was promptly stabilized and transported to The Miami Children's Hospital for surgery. If Lindsey would not have shown her exceptional skill and persistency, this baby would have died.
I was impressed with Lindsey’s quality of knowledge, persistence for patient care and most importantly being a patient advocate that saved this newborn baby's life, especially to pick up symptoms and signs of extremely rare fatal condition was impressive.