Becoming a mother for the first time after years of trying to conceive has been a journey filled with both excitement and anxiety for my husband and me. I had envisioned a natural delivery and was eager to embrace that challenge. However, as labor progressed and the Pitocin increased, my blood pressure began to rise, leading to the difficult news that I wouldn’t be able to deliver away from the bed due to pre-eclampsia protocols. Hearing this was disheartening, as I had hoped for a different experience.

While I felt immense gratitude that my baby arrived safely and without complications, I couldn’t shake my disappointment. Upon arriving in the Mother-Infant Unit, I was met by ENS Luo. The gentle tone of their voice instantly made me feel calm in that overwhelming moment. It was clear that ENS Luo would be the perfect support for my needs, given the challenges I was facing.

As the days passed, I witnessed ENS Luo's passion and dedication to ensuring that mothers feel confident in their abilities, regardless of the situation. ENS Luo provided daily education on breastfeeding, normal infant cues, and addressed my preeclampsia concerns.

One moment that truly stood out to me was on my discharge day, when I was informed that I might not be discharged due to a borderline blood pressure reading. I immediately began to cry, and ENS Luo could tell how much I wanted to go home. Instead of simply expressing empathy, she displayed genuine compassion and concern, asking, “Why are you upset?”

I shared my situation with her, explaining that I am currently in school for nursing through the Medical Enlisted Commissioning Program (MECP), which does not allow for a break in school for maternity leave. The school’s policy is to drop the course if a student is absent from class for two weeks, which would have been the case for me.

We discussed both my delivery and school concerns, and by the end of our conversation, I felt in total control of my emotions. ENS Luo analyzed my mental and emotional state and responded thoughtfully, using therapeutic communication that significantly aided my wellness, healing, and mental health.

I wholeheartedly recommend ENS Luo not only for her competence as a nurse but also for their exceptional ability to connect with patients on a mental health level, which is just as important to positive patient outcomes, but in my opinion is often overlooked.