June 2022
Ginger
Dunham
,
RNC, ICCE
Labor & Delivery
Banner University Medical Center - Phoenix
Phoenix
,
AZ
United States
Nursing isn't just patient care and tasks, and Ginger showed that with every interaction.
Ginger was the nurse assigned to us the day our son was born. She not only created an environment we felt comfortable asking questions in but one that made both my husband and I feel safe and respected. She took the time to get to know me as someone other than the birthing patient and my husband as someone other than the visitor. Ginger shares a common tie as a family member of someone who served in the USMC and joked with my Active-Duty husband about the stories her brother relayed to her. After a long night of baby not handling contractions well and numerous instances of "we need to discuss a c-section," Ginger walked in and told us she has a record of avoiding the OR and helping to deliver healthy babies. Her confidence was contagious, and we did end up delivering later that shift. She was open and honest with every intervention, position change (there were many), and risks with invasive monitoring. At one point, a monitor was displaced, and the MD placed another before asking for my consent. Ginger spoke up, asked how we felt about it, and elevated it to the attending after delivery. With no hard feelings to the MD, and an understanding for the need to monitor that specific way, we weren't upset with the re-placement, but Ginger took the extra step to make sure it was noted and a learning opportunity. Ginger made my wishes clear to the delivering MDs and made sure my husband's wishes were respected as well. Nursing isn't just patient care and tasks, and Ginger showed that with every interaction. She advocated for consent as well as rest when we needed it. She truly is an asset to nursing and was one of the main reasons we didn't end up giving up and delivering baby via c-section that day.