I had never met Nurse Theresa until the night of my child's birth by C-section in the operating room. Nurse Theresa received and began to care for my child from the operating doctor just as I believe any maternity nurse would, but the exemplary care which makes Nurse Theresa a DAISY Nurse came after this moment. In the midst of the unknown, having an early unplanned Cesarean delivery with a child in respiratory distress, she became our stable staff figure amongst all others. She took charge and coordinated my child's needs with the neonatologist, assisting nurses, respiratory care, and other care members to stabilize my child. Nurse Theresa reassured me by taking the time to explain the many medial tasks going on while still continuing to provide excellent and efficient care to my child.
Over the following many days, my child remained in the special care nursery. Nurse Theresa became my child's nurse during her shift several times. She always welcomed my wife and me into the nursery with a smile, warmth, and compassion even if she was not assigned as my child's nurse that shift. When she was working inside the nursery the atmosphere for me always seemed less stressful and tense and the entire nursing team worked together better. Theresa continued to show not only outstanding care to my child but also compassion and empathy for my wife and me as well. Nurse Theresa took the opportunity to come to my wife's postpartum room and met with us as my child's nurse for her shift. Not only did Nurse Theresa come to the room, but she took the time to comfort my wife with her questions, doubts, and concerns using excellent communication skills. Theresa owned the moment of opportunity which she was not required to do and comforted my wife with her well-spoken words, clinical expertise, and personal experiences, unlike any other nurse, had. Nurse Theresa seized opportunities in the nursery, without making us feel burdensome, rushed or inadequate by teaching us how to care for our child's needs and ensuring we were comfortable and fully understood the information.
Sitting by myself in the nursery at night holding my child, I would hear the other nurses asking Theresa questions and for assistance with unknown administrative processes or procedures. I also heard her take charge in coordinating care for other newborn children in the receiving room just as she had with my child. She leads by example and obviously has the clinical expertise, procedural knowledge, and trust of her fellow co-workers. I will forever be grateful to Nurse Theresa Ramos. Unity Point Methodist Hospital Special Care Nursery would not be the same without her. She is an outstanding role model and care provider.