Michelle Mckenna
November 2022
Michelle
Mckenna
,
DNP, CNM, ARNP
OB/GYN Clinic
USNMRTC Yokosuka, Japan
Yokosuka
Japan
I know many providers, specifically nurses, at this hospital go above and beyond, but I have to give my thanks to Michelle.
When I became pregnant, I joined the Centering class that Michelle was leading. From the beginning, she was very personable, friendly, and direct – which I greatly appreciated, as this was my first pregnancy, and my husband and I needed all of the honest information we could get. Throughout the duration of the course, I established a relationship with her that I hope all people can have with their medical providers. I felt heard, I felt like she had my best interest in mind and she encouraged all of us in the class to create a personalized birth plan. No “one size fits all” approach.
As we neared the due date, she assured me that if I wanted her there for delivery, she would be there, even if she wasn’t on call. That is incredible! I’m sure she has an unbelievably busy schedule in the first place, but to offer the level of patient care is the most unselfish, dedicated gesture I can think of when she didn’t need to do that. The day my water broke, she indeed was not the provider in the unit but she showed up, and was my biggest advocate. All of the providers I received care from in the unit were wonderful, but she made me feel completely safe, heard, and taken care of. She continued to speak to me in a straightforward, honest way even when complications arose with delivering the placenta.
Michelle is also the one who followed up with me on the day of discharge to discuss in detail the events of the delivery. Her advice and what to expect- from the contractions to transitioning to active labor to pushing and even to placenta delivery- prepared me to be able to handle this process mentally. I know many providers, specifically nurses, at this hospital go above and beyond, but I have to give my thanks to Michelle. I am forever grateful, indebted, and so lucky to have been able to have her as my provider these past 10 months. She pours herself into her work beyond what is required and since there are only 24 hours in a day, I’m sure she sacrifices her family time, personal time, and free time. I could go on and on but words just won’t convey how my husband and I feel. So CDR Michelle Mckenna, Thank You! From the bottom of our hearts, for delivering our beautiful baby girl!
As we neared the due date, she assured me that if I wanted her there for delivery, she would be there, even if she wasn’t on call. That is incredible! I’m sure she has an unbelievably busy schedule in the first place, but to offer the level of patient care is the most unselfish, dedicated gesture I can think of when she didn’t need to do that. The day my water broke, she indeed was not the provider in the unit but she showed up, and was my biggest advocate. All of the providers I received care from in the unit were wonderful, but she made me feel completely safe, heard, and taken care of. She continued to speak to me in a straightforward, honest way even when complications arose with delivering the placenta.
Michelle is also the one who followed up with me on the day of discharge to discuss in detail the events of the delivery. Her advice and what to expect- from the contractions to transitioning to active labor to pushing and even to placenta delivery- prepared me to be able to handle this process mentally. I know many providers, specifically nurses, at this hospital go above and beyond, but I have to give my thanks to Michelle. I am forever grateful, indebted, and so lucky to have been able to have her as my provider these past 10 months. She pours herself into her work beyond what is required and since there are only 24 hours in a day, I’m sure she sacrifices her family time, personal time, and free time. I could go on and on but words just won’t convey how my husband and I feel. So CDR Michelle Mckenna, Thank You! From the bottom of our hearts, for delivering our beautiful baby girl!