July 2020
Lindsey
Youngman
,
BSN, RN
Birth Center
Maine Medical Center
Lindsey was our guiding light in the dark hours of the early morning. She gave us direction to continue on the path of grief and healing.
When we arrived at MMC around 6 pm, shift change was about to occur at 7 pm, and right after we were dealt the devastating news, another nurse entered our lives. Lindsey Youngman RN helped us transition from the shock of finding out our daughter had passed, to entering into a logically thinking mindset to be making decisions in regards to medical care, to being with our daughter after she was delivered, to finally a place of rest.
In every step of that journey, Lindsey knew exactly what to say, do, and how to help. She was with us in the OR and was a calming presence. I was personally a wreck, as I know that any surgery, regardless of the team, still has inherent risks. I had just found out that I had lost my daughter, and I was terrified I could lose my wife as well. Lindsey recognized this and as my wife was being prepped, she reassured me and calmed my nerves. Her ability to go from caring for my wife, a patient who has a limited medical background, and then being able to have a conversation with me, who has an extensive medical background, was impressive.
Nurses are taught that patients need individual and personalized care. The same two patients with the same condition can require vastly different care. Many times, these patients are separated by rooms or halls. However, my wife and I, needing quite different care, were in the same room and together. Lindsey was able to flawlessly care for both of us, giving us exactly what we needed.
After the OR, we were brought to our room, so my wife could recover. This started another chapter of our journey. My wife and I did not know what to do. In the case of a stillborn child, there are some patients who want to hold their child and others who do not feel comfortable with it. As this is a subject rarely, if ever talked about outside of when it is happening, my wife and I had no idea what to do. Lindsey was our guiding light in the dark hours of the early morning. She gave us direction to continue on the path of grief and healing. Without her guidance and care, we would not have the foundation to which we have started to rebuild our lives after the loss of our child.
The DAISY Award is bestowed upon nurses who are role models for other nurses in both compassion and skill. What Lindsey demonstrated in her care for us is exactly what all nurses should strive to provide to their patients.
In every step of that journey, Lindsey knew exactly what to say, do, and how to help. She was with us in the OR and was a calming presence. I was personally a wreck, as I know that any surgery, regardless of the team, still has inherent risks. I had just found out that I had lost my daughter, and I was terrified I could lose my wife as well. Lindsey recognized this and as my wife was being prepped, she reassured me and calmed my nerves. Her ability to go from caring for my wife, a patient who has a limited medical background, and then being able to have a conversation with me, who has an extensive medical background, was impressive.
Nurses are taught that patients need individual and personalized care. The same two patients with the same condition can require vastly different care. Many times, these patients are separated by rooms or halls. However, my wife and I, needing quite different care, were in the same room and together. Lindsey was able to flawlessly care for both of us, giving us exactly what we needed.
After the OR, we were brought to our room, so my wife could recover. This started another chapter of our journey. My wife and I did not know what to do. In the case of a stillborn child, there are some patients who want to hold their child and others who do not feel comfortable with it. As this is a subject rarely, if ever talked about outside of when it is happening, my wife and I had no idea what to do. Lindsey was our guiding light in the dark hours of the early morning. She gave us direction to continue on the path of grief and healing. Without her guidance and care, we would not have the foundation to which we have started to rebuild our lives after the loss of our child.
The DAISY Award is bestowed upon nurses who are role models for other nurses in both compassion and skill. What Lindsey demonstrated in her care for us is exactly what all nurses should strive to provide to their patients.