Chantal Dengah advocates strongly for and demonstrates a commitment to the compassionate care of patients and families. She makes a connection with patients, families, and peers by building trust and respect. This fall, Chantal is in her last semester as a student in the Master’s degree, Nurse-midwifery program. Preceptor feedback highlights her connection with patients, their families, and her colleagues. She prioritizes communication and patient education to ensure that her care is patient-centered.

Chantal is able to walk in a room and read it, she is able to connect with a birthing mother and her family, give suggestions for physiologic birth, is creative in care, using peanut balls, toilets, rebozo, tug of war, etc. Our patient population is very diverse. From a physician to an undocumented refugee with no prenatal care. It takes great talent to know how to educate the families so they feel a part of their care, Chantal excels at this. She feels confident suggesting hydrotherapy and aromatherapy, and is able to give the physical therapy and partner choices and can describe them, then make a shared decision.

Chantal comes very well prepared, is curious, and asks many questions; if she is not sure she looks up current literature, and she practices evidence-based midwifery. She is always on time even though she has 3 children she must get ready for the day as she is a single mom. She will always stay late if she has childcare to see a patient through her labor. She does not complain even though she has many things in life that could get her down, she is a doer, she gets it done and on her own signs up for more clinic or labor, shifts to be a better midwife. She sought out experiences that were unique so that she will have one of the most well-rounded CVs upon graduation.

Chantal is an exceptional student in both didactic and clinical courses. She reads beyond what is assigned, delving further into a topic than is required and broadening the whole class’s understanding of the material by sharing her knowledge. She asks relevant and thought-provoking questions. Her learning style is that of a life-long learner. A clear example of her studying and work ethic is a “toolkit” that she designed containing a list of resources to provide best practice/EBP care to all patients. Her focus is not the grades but to prepare herself to be the best nurse-midwife for her patients. She has also been a teaching assistant at CU Nursing, teaching BSN students in the Nursing for Childbearing Families Course in 2020-2021.

The faculty has always been impressed with Chantal’s leadership potential. Even with her other responsibilities, including being a single mother and working during graduate school, she finds time to help others through her leadership and service. She was the CU Nursing student representative to the American College of Nurse-Midwives (ACNM), the basket coordinator for the Colorado ACNM fundraiser, and a student mentor. Chantal is a natural leader and is involved in several pivotal organizations. Since 2019, she has been an active member of the Western Institute of Nursing, the CU College of Nursing Alumni Association (and a member of their Student Success Committee), and since 2020, she has been a participating member of the Colorado Perinatal Care Quality Collaborative. She is a thoughtful student, who shows benevolence to her colleagues and patients. She is a star in her graduate program here and will be a compelling leader in nursing moving forward.