Sheritha Copeland
February 2020
Sheritha
Copeland
,
RN
Labor and Delivery – Pavilion for Women
Texas Children's Hospital
Houston
,
TX
United States
Sheritha exemplifies the kind of nurse that the patients and families as well as Nurses, Physicians, and Health Care team members recognize as an outstanding role model.
The triage RN told me that she was giving me the best L&D nurse they had. I had no idea how true that statement would be.
I would not have had my VBAC if it was not for you. I came in scared, in pain, and wanting to give up. I was not the VBAC warrior princess I had envisioned in my head. But you knew better. You reassured me and told me how once my pain was managed I could do it. You looked me directly in the eyes, and your calm demeanor meant I trusted your words immediately.
You got the anesthesiologist in the room ASAP. I personally hate needles and I continued to be nervous. You continued to be there for me.
When my husband had to leave the room to place the epidural, I turned to you for support. You allowed me to reach out and place my hand on your shoulder. I needed that touch, and whether you were okay with it or not, you held me back.
After the epidural was placed, I was still having discomfort. You were monitoring me closely, seeing my blood pressure was not going down and that I was still experiencing pain. You advocated for me and got the anesthesiologist back. Apparently I'm a fast metabolizer of the meds and needed another bolus. I finally got comfortable. You saw my contractions; your experience allowed you to predict my birth.
You started to inform me that I was dilating very quickly. To not be surprised if T showed stress, that a large crowd of people would rush in if that happened and move me all around to improve his stats. All these things happened, but I did not panic because you had mentally prepared me for this to happen.
Sheritha Copeland RN, thank you so much for your passion and expertise. You gave me the birth I didn't know I could have. You stayed with me and truly cared for me, which is what nursing is all about. When the AM nurse came in and you gave a report, I heard you. You had not charted anything. You had stayed at my bedside the ENTIRE time. Inevitably you had to stay past your shift to chart all the things that happened. I inconvenienced you, but your heart for taking care of moms was obvious.
The triage RN told me that she was giving me the best L&D nurse they had. I had no idea how true that statement would be.
I would not have had my VBAC if it was not for you. I came in scared, in pain, and wanting to give up. I was not the VBAC warrior princess I had envisioned in my head. But you knew better. You reassured me and told me how once my pain was managed I could do it. You looked me directly in the eyes, and your calm demeanor meant I trusted your words immediately.
You got the anesthesiologist in the room ASAP. I personally hate needles and I continued to be nervous. You continued to be there for me.
When my husband had to leave the room to place the epidural, I turned to you for support. You allowed me to reach out and place my hand on your shoulder. I needed that touch, and whether you were okay with it or not, you held me back.
After the epidural was placed, I was still having discomfort. You were monitoring me closely, seeing my blood pressure was not going down and that I was still experiencing pain. You advocated for me and got the anesthesiologist back. Apparently I'm a fast metabolizer of the meds and needed another bolus. I finally got comfortable. You saw my contractions; your experience allowed you to predict my birth.
You started to inform me that I was dilating very quickly. To not be surprised if T showed stress, that a large crowd of people would rush in if that happened and move me all around to improve his stats. All these things happened, but I did not panic because you had mentally prepared me for this to happen.
Sheritha Copeland RN, thank you so much for your passion and expertise. You gave me the birth I didn't know I could have. You stayed with me and truly cared for me, which is what nursing is all about. When the AM nurse came in and you gave a report, I heard you. You had not charted anything. You had stayed at my bedside the ENTIRE time. Inevitably you had to stay past your shift to chart all the things that happened. I inconvenienced you, but your heart for taking care of moms was obvious.