Elizabeth Matuska has been an exceptional Nurse and informal leader in the NICU. What makes her extraordinary is the ability to take a team of Nurses and lead them by example and model the way. Her extraordinary efforts include her qualities as a mentor to newer Nurses who desire to learn in the NICU by taking the time to train, mentor, and explain in thorough detail the delicacy of caring for the premature newborn.As an educator in her RN role, she exemplifies her ability to adapt and teach NICU skills with great attention to detail in a critical events code and simulation.
To solidify one event in which Elizabeth went above and beyond for a NICU family in confusion and grief, she attended a very complicated delivery in the OR and was the only skilled NICU RN in the operating room. The infant had undergone a stressful delivery and was unresponsive. With great attention to detail, she recognized the infant was in distress and immediately called a "NICU CODE". Without delaying time she implemented lifesaving efforts independently until more support could arrive. As the infant was transferred to the NICU and decompensating she continued assertively with the Pediatric Hospitalist to revive the infant and assisted the MD with higher level acuity life-sustaining measures that a Level III-IV NICU would offer. Utilizing her experience from other higher levels she was able to maintain her ability to support and sustain the life of this infant and assist in performing invasive procedures. She instituted and reached out to the NICU transport team to prepare for the infant transport.
Although, the outcome of this event was not favorable what stands out to me was Elizabeth’s compassion for what she did that day. Her ability to connect with grieving parents who had multiple concerns and questions and the ability to explain in detail all efforts provided. The post-care that she provided for the newborn, dressing and wrapping the newborn with great integrity and still maintaining dignity for the small life. Holding the infant with reflection, emotion, concern, and care. What some might not understand is that the Maternal Child is not always a happy environment. Change happens at any cause. On this day it was Elizabeth who was able to navigate a high-risk situation, think critically, provide higher acuity care than this department is used to, keep up with the sustaining needs of this newborn and physician, and who had to think out of the box for the sake of this newborn.
Some might say this is what our NICU nurses deal with every day and that answer is that no, this is not typical and every day. What amazed me is the love and compassion she had for that little life in the short time and the integrity and dignity maintained. Elizabeth was recognized by many of our physicians in the NICU and staff who learned from her in this event.