July 2013
Sherree
Ronk
,
RN
Labor and Delivery
Banner Thunderbird Medical Center
Glendale
,
AZ
United States
It was change of shift and we received a call that a patient was on her way to Labor and Delivery with a suspected abruption. OB Triage had not been able to obtain the fetal heart rate. Sherree is always ready to take on the challenge of any emergency and when she heard a possible abruption she knew this could be an emergent cesarean section to save the baby and/or mother and jumped and took the assignment. We expected to do an emergent cesarean section and had our team in her room to assist with the care. After the patient was stabilized and her fetus was confirmed demised, it was determined she did not need to have the emergent cesarean section.
Sherree then focused on helping the patient with her pain and assisted to get her an epidural ASAP. She was dealing with this patient in a lot of pain physically and emotionally. She also had several family members who needed emotional support for their grief due to the loss of the baby. When the patient and family were comfortable, Sherree came out of the room and I could tell she was very emotional. This was her third experience in a week of caring for a patient that had lost a baby.
I wanted to change her assignment. As I knew she has said she emotionally needed a break from caring for a patient who had lost a baby. She refused to let me change her assignment stating she felt it would be too difficult for the patient and her family. She put her patient's needs before her personal needs.
She stayed with this patient during her labor and delivery. She spent time with the patient and family and gave them the support they needed. She arranged for the Chaplin to come and discussed with the patient plans they would need to make. She spent time between the bedside care making mementos for the patient with supplies from our Resolve Thru Sharing program. She made a memory page, took photos of the baby after delivery and used Alphabet beads to make a special arm band for the baby with his name on it.
I am sure this family had no idea how difficult it was for Sherree to care for them that day. Sherree through her caring and strength made this very difficult time for the patient and family a very memorable one. I am sure they will always remember the care and compassion she gave to them during this most difficult time.
Sherree then focused on helping the patient with her pain and assisted to get her an epidural ASAP. She was dealing with this patient in a lot of pain physically and emotionally. She also had several family members who needed emotional support for their grief due to the loss of the baby. When the patient and family were comfortable, Sherree came out of the room and I could tell she was very emotional. This was her third experience in a week of caring for a patient that had lost a baby.
I wanted to change her assignment. As I knew she has said she emotionally needed a break from caring for a patient who had lost a baby. She refused to let me change her assignment stating she felt it would be too difficult for the patient and her family. She put her patient's needs before her personal needs.
She stayed with this patient during her labor and delivery. She spent time with the patient and family and gave them the support they needed. She arranged for the Chaplin to come and discussed with the patient plans they would need to make. She spent time between the bedside care making mementos for the patient with supplies from our Resolve Thru Sharing program. She made a memory page, took photos of the baby after delivery and used Alphabet beads to make a special arm band for the baby with his name on it.
I am sure this family had no idea how difficult it was for Sherree to care for them that day. Sherree through her caring and strength made this very difficult time for the patient and family a very memorable one. I am sure they will always remember the care and compassion she gave to them during this most difficult time.