My experience at Abington becoming a new mom had no right being as wonderful as it was and I can solely attribute that to Stephanie and the staff on Labor and Delivery. My husband was scheduled to take boards, expecting that our little girl would be a late arrival due to it being my first child. Well with our luck I went into labor in the early morning hours. Having been a nurse myself I didn’t realize how scared I would be and wracked with guilt that my husband may actually have to miss witnessing the birth of our first child. I was in denial this was actually happening. It was at this point we were introduced to our nurse Stephanie. Not only was she incredibly knowledgeable and confident (which put my husband at ease when he had to leave to take his exam) but she also knew exactly the right things to say and do to keep me from falling apart. She put my mind at ease, gave me hope when I really doubted how I would manage. 

Stephanie held me in place to ensure the epidural could be placed quickly and effectively. There are not enough words to describe exactly how amazing Stephanie is not only in her technical skills as a nurse but her attitude that could help me forget my worries. She did everything in her power to give me hope to delay the inevitable in the hope that we could buy us enough time for my husband to make it back from his exam in time to push. When my water broke spontaneously she swiftly went into action and eased my impending fear that time was not on our side. I truly believe that we managed to hold out and my husband made it back in time for the birth was due to her support.

As I hold my baby in one arm and write this nomination I am overwhelmed (not just by postpartum hormones) with gratitude that an amazing person such as Stephanie was assigned as our nurse and helped what could have been a difficult day, become the absolute best day and delivery experience a new mom could ever ask for.