Over the summer, L&D took care of a patient who was on our unit for weeks, due to the high-risk nature of her pregnancy. During her admission, she was subjected to continuous fetal monitoring, multiple IVs, frequent vital sign checks, and to lie for weeks on end in our L&D beds (which are not the most comfortable due to the needed accessories obstetric patients require). Melinda James, an RN Supervisor on L&D, received the following card from this patient:

"Dear Melinda,
Thank you so much for all you did for us, and for the baby during my stay. We will be forever grateful for you. You were a light in our lives and will remain special to us. You are a reason I stayed pregnant for so long, our gratitude is immense.
Love,
The Family."

Melinda is a DAISY Nurse due to the feedback I personally received from this patient (as well as the narrative she provided in her lovely card). When I spoke with the patient, she talked about how L&D nurses, especially Melinda, made her feel safe and welcome. That through their supporting words of encouragement, the education they provided her, and the patient advocacy that she witnessed, they made her feel safe and taken care of. She talked specifically of how Melinda, even though she was not her primary nurse, checked in on her throughout the many weeks and offered her support. Melinda is, and has always been a strong patient advocate.