Before leaving the hospital, at the end of the day, I routinely check in with the nursing supervisors to ensure there are no issues for resolution. On one afternoon in May, I stopped into their office and there was a noticeably distraught nurse being comforted by several members of my team. When I asked if everything was ok, the nurse said that she had recently found out that her baby no longer had a fetal heart rate, and this was reconfirmed today.
She said that due to the current COVID crisis, that getting assistance and follow-up was challenging. I asked if she had any support network in place or if she'd been referred for grief counseling. It was only her and her husband, who was also grieving, and they were supporting each other, the best they could. She has not received any other referral.
I asked her if she would be open to me speaking with a Midwife, to assess grief counseling options, of which she said that she would be. I left the room and called the one person I knew would step up and into this situation to help our colleague.
Although it was after hours, Mariama answered the phone and listened to me explain the issue. I asked if she could refer our colleague for counseling or provide her with any resources she may know of. Mariama, who was at home, asked for our colleague's contact details and said she would come back to the hospital to meet with her. I told the nurse that Mariama, my lead Midwife, and Director, was on her way back and would come to meet her.
I followed up with the nurse through email to see how she was, and she responded.
"Good evening Sir, thank you for your concern, I couldn't have had better support other than Mariama. I was able to express everything that I was going through mentally and emotionally. I felt relieved as I could verbalize everything on my mind and more than anything there was somebody who was listening to me patiently. That was what I needed at that point of time, anyways I am coping with the situation as of now and hoping for the best ahead. Thank you once again for your concern."
Mariama put this nurse's needs before her own and returned to the hospital to help a grieving mother mourn the loss of her child and to provide her guidance on how to manage through this difficult time. Mariama demonstrated person-centered care in this extraordinary act of advocacy and kindness. Mariama demonstrated our mission, of "providing the highest level of holistic nursing and midwifery care to every person, every day", and demonstrated our core values of "care, connection, and professionalism".
Thank you, Mariama for all you do, every day.