David is a knowledgeable nurse who genuinely cares for his patients and their families. He works hard to make sure you are cared for. His attentiveness and listening are superb. He is fully present, focused, and always listening. I was impressed by these qualities from the beginning. He was also very professional, respectful, kind and patient. I immediately felt that he cared and was going to help my baby. I felt at ease during a very stressful time due to David's caring attitude.
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I felt that he was genuinely concerned for my child and my wellbeing from the beginning. He always spoke kindly, listened intently, and was always patient. I had been awake for almost 24 hours when we were admitted, and he was very patient with me and sensitive to the fact that I was tired and worried. When he's in the room with you his attention is 100% on your child and family. I never felt that he was rushed or distracted. It was comforting to feel that he was caring for us as if we were his own family. His listening and attentiveness to our needs and concerns were outstanding. I never felt that he was "just doing his job".
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He explained about how there would be a team of doctors rounding in the morning, how things work on the floor (getting in and out, calling out, ice, etc.), and what to expect. It's hard to think of specific times he educated us because I felt as if he was constantly teaching us what to expect and what he was doing. He gave me a brief overview of my child's diagnosis and what to be looking for (my pediatrician had already taught me about it, so I was already familiar, but he made sure I understood). He made sure I knew what exactly he was doing with my baby. When she needed to be suctioned he made sure to explain it was so she could breathe better and that respiratory was coming to see her because he heard wheezing. He explained and made me feel comfortable about the fact that my baby was in isolation. Since I knew why and to expect it, I wasn't alarmed when caregivers had to come in with gowns, masks, and gloves. He always seemed very knowledgeable and I never doubted his expertise and therefore felt very safe with his care for my child.
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We were in Cincinnati for a little trip to the Aquarium and were unexpectedly admitted to the hospital during the wee hours of the night. David made sure my baby was settled and comfortable, that I had what I needed to care for my baby (diapers, wipes, etc.), made sure I knew how to operate the crib rails, showed me around the room, and went the extra mile by pulling out and making the bed for me, ensuring I was going to be able to rest also. The way that he speaks is very comforting too. He was very kind and always listened. He was very supportive of breastfeeding and made sure I had plenty to drink in order to stay hydrated and offered a snack. During our second night he tried his best to let us rest. I say tried because there's not much rest to be had in a hospital. He came in quietly and checked on my baby frequently. Since I knew I could rely on him to check on my baby frequently I could rest better in the hospital room. I knew she was in good hands and was going to be checked on, so I didn't have to sit up with her and could rest in the room.
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David made sure I was involved in what was going on, and that I always understood what was going on. During admission, he talked with me about nursing while in the hospital. The importance of staying hydrated, eating, and that she may need it frequently. We discussed her suctioning, why and how it is to be done. That the suctioning would upset the baby but shouldn't hurt. What I needed to be looking for if she needed suctioning again. We discussed that the plan for her was to be where I would be comfortable doing her bulb suctioning, she would be nursing better, and she would be breathing easier. It was a nice conversation where I was involved and able to express my thoughts and ideas, not him just telling me this is what's going to happen.