Terri Olson
January 2019
Terri
L. Olson
,
RN, BSN
Labor & Delivery
Lutheran Medical Center
Wheat Ridge
,
CO
United States
I had a recent delivery with Terri that was simply amazing and I realize that she deserves recognition for the outstanding care she provides on behalf of all the patients she cares for. This particular patient was a normal, low-risk patient, who could have been just another delivery at LMC, but Terri made it so much more than that.
The patient had an extremely large extended family in the birthing room that included her mom, dad, sisters, brother in laws, nieces, and nephews which made for a very crowded room, but also a room that was full of love and support for the mom-to-be. Terri was committed to giving the patient the birth she desired. It is work to coach the family, to be the best support for the laboring mom, and at the same time be attentive to her nursing role, take care of the patient, guide all the family, and help them understand what was happening. Simultaneously, Terri was completing her nursing documentation on the computer, which the family probably never even noticed because it always felt like she was giving 100% of her attention to the patient and her family. Terri approached me prior to the delivery and said that we have the opportunity to make this a really special delivery and asked if Dad could assist in the delivery.
The family was at the patient's side, loving, caring and supporting her, Terri in the background helping make it the best delivery possible, coaching the patient when needed, orchestrating the delivery and as always providing excellent bedside care. Through the entire labor, I am not aware of Terri ever leaving the patient's side. The family was included and made to feel special (never in the way or a nuisance).
Dad assisted in the delivery and it was one of those deliveries you never forget, with all the family literally in tears of joy. It was an honor to be in a labor room with over 20 people crying in joy, celebrating a newborn baby!
There is nothing that could have been done to make this any better for this family and this birth!
It is so easy for a lot of births to be just "another day at the office" or "another birth." After this birth, I just felt so thankful to have Terri in this patient's life, and with me assisting in this delivery. Terri made this a wonderful memory that the entire family, and especially the mom and dad, will never forget.
I do not know how to put this in words, to describe the experience of seeing a nurse love and care for a family so much, never thinking about the extra work, or commotion, or distraction, but totally committed to the patient and her family-centered birth. I love what I do, but after 30+ years in this profession, I can forget what we are doing on L&D. Terri always reminds me why we are here, and the importance of what we are doing.
This was not just another patient for Terri, but what I want to emphasize, is that it is never just "another patient" for Terri. This is what it is like in every delivery I have with Terri. I am so thankful to have Terri caring for my patients for the last 30 years. I was in tears after this delivery, literally, for having such amazing nurses on L&D and especially, for Terri. I haven't nominated anyone for anything before because it often feels like just another day at work where all the nurses are just doing an exceptional job as always. But really, they should all be nominated, so often as our unsung heroes. When some "event" happens and a life is saved, we typically think more about "awards." I don't know how many times Terri has saved a life or been on top of an "obstetrical emergency" (I'm sure there were many in her career!). Doing our job well, being prepared for emergencies (such as OB hemorrhages or neonatal resuscitations) is so important, but the rest of the 99% of our day is the "normal" delivery that can be made so special.
I will forget most of the deliveries I assisted in at Lutheran, but I will never forget the care Terri gave my patients and how lucky they were to have her for their birth. So, from all the moms and their families, thirty years of loving, caring and making every patient so special, I want to recognize Terri.
The patient had an extremely large extended family in the birthing room that included her mom, dad, sisters, brother in laws, nieces, and nephews which made for a very crowded room, but also a room that was full of love and support for the mom-to-be. Terri was committed to giving the patient the birth she desired. It is work to coach the family, to be the best support for the laboring mom, and at the same time be attentive to her nursing role, take care of the patient, guide all the family, and help them understand what was happening. Simultaneously, Terri was completing her nursing documentation on the computer, which the family probably never even noticed because it always felt like she was giving 100% of her attention to the patient and her family. Terri approached me prior to the delivery and said that we have the opportunity to make this a really special delivery and asked if Dad could assist in the delivery.
The family was at the patient's side, loving, caring and supporting her, Terri in the background helping make it the best delivery possible, coaching the patient when needed, orchestrating the delivery and as always providing excellent bedside care. Through the entire labor, I am not aware of Terri ever leaving the patient's side. The family was included and made to feel special (never in the way or a nuisance).
Dad assisted in the delivery and it was one of those deliveries you never forget, with all the family literally in tears of joy. It was an honor to be in a labor room with over 20 people crying in joy, celebrating a newborn baby!
There is nothing that could have been done to make this any better for this family and this birth!
It is so easy for a lot of births to be just "another day at the office" or "another birth." After this birth, I just felt so thankful to have Terri in this patient's life, and with me assisting in this delivery. Terri made this a wonderful memory that the entire family, and especially the mom and dad, will never forget.
I do not know how to put this in words, to describe the experience of seeing a nurse love and care for a family so much, never thinking about the extra work, or commotion, or distraction, but totally committed to the patient and her family-centered birth. I love what I do, but after 30+ years in this profession, I can forget what we are doing on L&D. Terri always reminds me why we are here, and the importance of what we are doing.
This was not just another patient for Terri, but what I want to emphasize, is that it is never just "another patient" for Terri. This is what it is like in every delivery I have with Terri. I am so thankful to have Terri caring for my patients for the last 30 years. I was in tears after this delivery, literally, for having such amazing nurses on L&D and especially, for Terri. I haven't nominated anyone for anything before because it often feels like just another day at work where all the nurses are just doing an exceptional job as always. But really, they should all be nominated, so often as our unsung heroes. When some "event" happens and a life is saved, we typically think more about "awards." I don't know how many times Terri has saved a life or been on top of an "obstetrical emergency" (I'm sure there were many in her career!). Doing our job well, being prepared for emergencies (such as OB hemorrhages or neonatal resuscitations) is so important, but the rest of the 99% of our day is the "normal" delivery that can be made so special.
I will forget most of the deliveries I assisted in at Lutheran, but I will never forget the care Terri gave my patients and how lucky they were to have her for their birth. So, from all the moms and their families, thirty years of loving, caring and making every patient so special, I want to recognize Terri.