Monique is the primary nurse for a patient of mine in the NICU. She contacts me every shift she is working to ensure that she is able to follow through and allow this patient the best developmental opportunities possible. She took the time to write up a "promise" for his bedside. In it, she lets him know she will be kind, gentle, interactive; she will hold and comfort him when he needs it; she will understand the cues he gives when he is stressed and help to relieve his feelings of being overwhelmed. It feels as though these are basic ideas but the NICU can be so overwhelming that renewing a daily promise helps this little boy to know he is safe.
Today, Monique called me to let me know she was trying a new bouncing seat and wanted to be sure he was in the best possible position to support his love of bouncing on his feet while maintaining the best alignment (and therefore development) of his leg bones, knees, and hips. This above and beyond attitude allows a wonderful sense of teamwork while creating better tomorrows for our patients.