Robbie was recognized for helping a mother in the SICU express breast milk for her newborn baby who was being treated at Women's and Children's Hospital. He also helped facilitate transport for the baby to meet her mother.
Robbie has worked pretty much everywhere at MU Health Care. His experience especially equipped him to handle this patient's special circumstances.
The patient's family informed Robbie of her desire to breastfeed. Despite the acuity of the patient's condition, Robbie made this a priority, even though her child was being cared for at Women's and Children's Hospital. Thanks to his efforts, he was able to facilitate the patient's wishes before she passed away.
The mother had sustained a clinical decline and the infant daughter was still in the neonatal intensive care unit at Women's and Children's Hospital. Together, Robbie, his preceptor, and the NICU and transport team collaborated, and the baby was transported for her first visit with her mom. Even though the patient was sedated, I think on some level she sensed her baby's presence because her heart rate was the lowest it had been in weeks. What Robbie did for this patient and her family is pretty amazing, but the fact that he is a new nurse makes this great act of kindness and patient advocacy even more extraordinary.