Caitlin J McGlinchey
March 2025
Caitlin J
McGlinchey
,
BSN, RN
Couplet Care
Penn Medicine Lancaster General Hospital
Lancaster
,
PA
United States
Caitlin stayed several hours past the end of her shift to help us see him transition to the NICU and to ensure that my husband and I were informed of what our NICU journey would entail.
I was a patient at Women and Babies Hospital after the birth of my son. Caitlin was the RN on day shift duty for all three days that I spent in couplet care. From the start, Caitlin made me feel welcome and cared for, helping me navigate those first hours postpartum. This was especially important because I delivered my son unexpectedly at 36 weeks pregnant; to say that I was feeling quite overwhelmed and disoriented is an understatement. Caitlin patiently helped my husband learn the basics of newborn care, answered any questions we had, and helped us understand the hospital process. She provided a listening ear to our concerns, and when we felt overwhelmed, she offered a sympathetic ear when we needed to talk to someone. Caitlin was especially helpful in advocating for and communicating with us when our son needed brain scans completed as per our MFM doctor's instructions.
Most importantly, and the reason why Caitlin deserves this award, is for her assistance when our son failed his car seat test twice. Caitlin consulted with Nursery and NICU staff members to determine the root of the issue. As a result, we realized his oxygen levels were sporadically dropping, even when he wasn't in the car seat. Our son was admitted to the NICU for further care. Caitlin stayed several hours past the end of her shift to help us see him transition to the NICU and to ensure that my husband and I were informed of what our NICU journey would entail. My husband and I would like to thank Caitlin for her kindness and consultation. She truly went above and beyond to ensure our baby received the best possible care. Because of her, we realized that there was a bigger issue that required more care for him. This may have ultimately saved his life because his body wasn't fully developed for the outside world, and she recognized the signs. Because of Caitlin's attention to detail, our son is receiving the support he needs to build his strength so he can return home healthy and strong. Caitlin will always have a part in our son's story.