Lisa Franklin
March 2022
Lisa
Franklin
,
RNC-OB
Labor and Delivery
Methodist Charlton Medical Center
Dallas
,
TX
United States
Lisa relentlessly pursued the patient’s OB physician, her consulting specialist, the anesthesia team, the charge nurse, and anyone else that she could involve so that this woman would have a safe delivery for both her and her unborn baby.
Lisa was taking care of a young woman pregnant with her first baby. She was being induced for various reasons and she also had a fairly rare but obvious underlying condition. This condition is greatly exacerbated by stress and can precipitate a life-threatening event. Labor is usually a high-stress-inducing event as most of us are aware! This woman did have a specialist consulting with her OB doctor. I have been in anesthesia for over 16 years and this was also my first experience with this condition for labor, although I’m familiar with it.
As the day progressed, this young woman began to exhibit signs of stress which progressively worsened even with Lisa’s multiple attempts to address the situation. Lisa felt that the concerns she had for her patient weren’t being considered as seriously as she thought they should be as her patient’s condition continued to worsen along with dealing with her very upset to the point of hysterics support people that were in her room (patient’s family). Lisa relentlessly pursued the patient’s OB physician, her consulting specialist, the anesthesia team, the charge nurse, and anyone else that she could involve so that this woman would have a safe delivery for both her and her unborn baby.
One of the outward symptoms the patient was displaying was excruciating, unrelenting pain that the labor epidural was not touching. She was curled in on herself and sobbing and shaking in pain. Lisa got all of us mobilized, and had another physician contact the patient’s OB to tell her that we literally insist that she come in as soon as possible and surgically deliver this woman because although Lisa had relayed over and over to her OB physician that she felt the woman’s situation was dire, her OB wasn’t as convinced and therefore had been reluctant to come in. We proceeded to the OR, delivered the baby safely and the mom recovered quickly post-op, requiring very little intervention. The patient and her family were extremely grateful for Lisa’s perseverance. She was the epitome of a true patient advocate that day as she is every day.
As the day progressed, this young woman began to exhibit signs of stress which progressively worsened even with Lisa’s multiple attempts to address the situation. Lisa felt that the concerns she had for her patient weren’t being considered as seriously as she thought they should be as her patient’s condition continued to worsen along with dealing with her very upset to the point of hysterics support people that were in her room (patient’s family). Lisa relentlessly pursued the patient’s OB physician, her consulting specialist, the anesthesia team, the charge nurse, and anyone else that she could involve so that this woman would have a safe delivery for both her and her unborn baby.
One of the outward symptoms the patient was displaying was excruciating, unrelenting pain that the labor epidural was not touching. She was curled in on herself and sobbing and shaking in pain. Lisa got all of us mobilized, and had another physician contact the patient’s OB to tell her that we literally insist that she come in as soon as possible and surgically deliver this woman because although Lisa had relayed over and over to her OB physician that she felt the woman’s situation was dire, her OB wasn’t as convinced and therefore had been reluctant to come in. We proceeded to the OR, delivered the baby safely and the mom recovered quickly post-op, requiring very little intervention. The patient and her family were extremely grateful for Lisa’s perseverance. She was the epitome of a true patient advocate that day as she is every day.