Tonya Smith
October 2023
Tonya
Smith
,
BSN, RN
NICU
Children's Medical Center Dallas
Dallas
,
TX
United States
"The extraordinary level of care, compassion, and dedication that Tonya showed during our infant’s NICU stay has left a lasting impact on our family."
Our newborn infant was discharged after spending 57 days in the NICU. Her primary nurse, Tonya Smith, was absolutely outstanding, providing phenomenal care and compassion during a very stressful period. When Tonya first looked after our infant, we knew immediately that she was a truly exceptional NICU nurse. Over our 8‑week hospital stay, we experienced countless examples of Tonya going “above and beyond” for our infant as well as for us as parents. Below are just some of the ways Tonya demonstrated outstanding care and compassion.
Our infant required neurosurgery when she was 12 days old. During what was a truly distressing time for us as parents, Tonya guided us through the lead‑up to surgery with genuine compassion. She explained clearly and with great detail what to expect throughout the entire pre‑ and post‑operative process. Tonya included information that we did not think to ask about, such as the different people who would be coming into the room and what they would be doing, how the bed would be transported, and what our infant would look like when she returned from surgery. Having this information beforehand eliminated so much anxiety for us.
Tonya was truly devoted to caring for our baby. As NICU parents, it was extremely reassuring to have Tonya by our side as an ally and advocate. She was a dedicated champion for our infant, advocating proactively for her needs based on the deep knowledge and understanding she had gained while caring for her.
In addition to her expert clinical care, there were two notable occasions that demonstrated Tonya’s immense compassion. Both of which we will treasure forever. The first occurred when our infant was about three weeks old. Unbeknownst to us, Tonya took it upon herself to create keepsakes to put above the crib, including footprints and signs celebrating major milestones. The second example was when our infant finished her first full bottle by mouth. To commemorate it, Tonya decorated a bottle with the date and amount consumed. These thoughtful mementos allowed us to celebrate our baby’s achievements and see beyond the challenges of the NICU.
The extraordinary level of care, compassion, and dedication that Tonya showed during our infant’s NICU stay has left a lasting impact on our family. She epitomized patient-centered practice, anticipating needs and supporting all aspects of development and healing. The examples above represent only a fraction of the countless moments when Tonya far exceeded the clinical duties of a NICU nurse to provide the utmost compassionate care.
We are incredibly grateful to have had her as our infant’s primary nurse. Tonya is truly a rare gem, and we cannot thank her enough.
Our infant required neurosurgery when she was 12 days old. During what was a truly distressing time for us as parents, Tonya guided us through the lead‑up to surgery with genuine compassion. She explained clearly and with great detail what to expect throughout the entire pre‑ and post‑operative process. Tonya included information that we did not think to ask about, such as the different people who would be coming into the room and what they would be doing, how the bed would be transported, and what our infant would look like when she returned from surgery. Having this information beforehand eliminated so much anxiety for us.
Tonya was truly devoted to caring for our baby. As NICU parents, it was extremely reassuring to have Tonya by our side as an ally and advocate. She was a dedicated champion for our infant, advocating proactively for her needs based on the deep knowledge and understanding she had gained while caring for her.
In addition to her expert clinical care, there were two notable occasions that demonstrated Tonya’s immense compassion. Both of which we will treasure forever. The first occurred when our infant was about three weeks old. Unbeknownst to us, Tonya took it upon herself to create keepsakes to put above the crib, including footprints and signs celebrating major milestones. The second example was when our infant finished her first full bottle by mouth. To commemorate it, Tonya decorated a bottle with the date and amount consumed. These thoughtful mementos allowed us to celebrate our baby’s achievements and see beyond the challenges of the NICU.
The extraordinary level of care, compassion, and dedication that Tonya showed during our infant’s NICU stay has left a lasting impact on our family. She epitomized patient-centered practice, anticipating needs and supporting all aspects of development and healing. The examples above represent only a fraction of the countless moments when Tonya far exceeded the clinical duties of a NICU nurse to provide the utmost compassionate care.
We are incredibly grateful to have had her as our infant’s primary nurse. Tonya is truly a rare gem, and we cannot thank her enough.