Susan D'Angelo
March 2023
Susan
D'Angelo
,
BA, BSN, CCRN
NICU
Adventist HealthCare Shady Grove Medical Center
Rockville
,
MD
United States
As our daughter’s primary care nurse, Susan was our daughter’s biggest advocate, a shoulder to cry on, and a much-needed hug on the darkest of days. Susan’s commitment to our daughter went above and beyond.
When my husband and I entered the NICU with our new baby girl, we had no idea what to expect. Having our daughter three months early was certainly not part of the plan. We were in shock, felt helpless, and weren’t sure what was to come. We were informed that we would be in the NICU for the long haul and it was recommended that we choose a primary care nurse. We weren’t exactly sure at the time what the true benefit would be, but we followed that recommendation for the benefit of our daughter. After only a few different staffing interactions, we decided on Susan.
Shortly after making our selection, the benefits of selecting a primary care nurse quickly became apparent. Susan immediately demonstrated her dedication to our daughter and made sure she was receiving the best care as if she was her own. Susan learned our daughter’s daily nuances and was able to advocate for our daughter day in and day out. Susan knew when additional medical attention was needed before the rest of the medical team may have. She was always willing to navigate difficult conversations and never shied away from standing up for what she believed our daughter needed.
As our stay continued in the NICU, Susan’s role as our primary care nurse went beyond taking care of our daughter during her shifts. She helped to promote bonding time between our daughter and us, educated our family on the best practices to ensure the continual growth of our daughter, and reassured us daily that each milestone that needed to be met was not a matter of IF but a matter of WHEN. Susan never doubted that our daughter would not only survive but would thrive.
The benefit of having a primary care nurse proved to be one of the best decisions we made during our first week in the NICU. Susan’s commitment to our daughter was the reason that we knew we could leave our daughter’s side and trusted that she would receive the best care from someone who truly had our daughter’s best interest in mind at all times. When she was in times of severe need, I knew our daughter was always Susan’s first priority. Susan’s continued reassurance enabled my husband and me to have faith that we would make it through that uncertain and taxing time in our lives. As our daughter’s primary care nurse, Susan was our daughter’s biggest advocate, a shoulder to cry on, and a much-needed hug on the darkest of days. Susan’s commitment to our daughter went above and beyond. To anyone who is unsure of the power and benefit of a primary care nurse, I would tell them to find their Susan. I can’t even imagine conquering our 80-day NICU stay without her by our side.
Our daughter is now home in our care but Susan continues to prove her commitment to our daughter. She routinely checks in with us to see how our daughter is doing and ensures that she is getting what she needs to continue to thrive. We were able to navigate the long days, late nights, and the roller coaster that is the NICU because of choosing a primary care nurse. The positive experience that we had in the NICU was largely a result of Susan’s efforts. As a result, though she is no longer our daughter’s nurse, she has become part of our family.
Shortly after making our selection, the benefits of selecting a primary care nurse quickly became apparent. Susan immediately demonstrated her dedication to our daughter and made sure she was receiving the best care as if she was her own. Susan learned our daughter’s daily nuances and was able to advocate for our daughter day in and day out. Susan knew when additional medical attention was needed before the rest of the medical team may have. She was always willing to navigate difficult conversations and never shied away from standing up for what she believed our daughter needed.
As our stay continued in the NICU, Susan’s role as our primary care nurse went beyond taking care of our daughter during her shifts. She helped to promote bonding time between our daughter and us, educated our family on the best practices to ensure the continual growth of our daughter, and reassured us daily that each milestone that needed to be met was not a matter of IF but a matter of WHEN. Susan never doubted that our daughter would not only survive but would thrive.
The benefit of having a primary care nurse proved to be one of the best decisions we made during our first week in the NICU. Susan’s commitment to our daughter was the reason that we knew we could leave our daughter’s side and trusted that she would receive the best care from someone who truly had our daughter’s best interest in mind at all times. When she was in times of severe need, I knew our daughter was always Susan’s first priority. Susan’s continued reassurance enabled my husband and me to have faith that we would make it through that uncertain and taxing time in our lives. As our daughter’s primary care nurse, Susan was our daughter’s biggest advocate, a shoulder to cry on, and a much-needed hug on the darkest of days. Susan’s commitment to our daughter went above and beyond. To anyone who is unsure of the power and benefit of a primary care nurse, I would tell them to find their Susan. I can’t even imagine conquering our 80-day NICU stay without her by our side.
Our daughter is now home in our care but Susan continues to prove her commitment to our daughter. She routinely checks in with us to see how our daughter is doing and ensures that she is getting what she needs to continue to thrive. We were able to navigate the long days, late nights, and the roller coaster that is the NICU because of choosing a primary care nurse. The positive experience that we had in the NICU was largely a result of Susan’s efforts. As a result, though she is no longer our daughter’s nurse, she has become part of our family.