I came to the hospital after laboring at home for several hours. It was my first baby and as a labor and delivery nurse, I know first babies take time. I had been preparing myself for months to be flexible and open to how this baby would come into the world whether it be vaginally or by c-section. After all of the babies I have helped bring into this world, nothing prepared me for how I would feel when it was my own baby. I had a whirlwind of emotion and instead of being blissfully unaware of some of the complications and things that could go wrong I knew all of the worst case scenarios. When my routine labor quickly turned into an urgent c-section from a partial abruption I couldn't be happier and more relieved than to have Stephanie as my labor and delivery nurse.
I work with many great nurses and a few phenomenal ones. I have always viewed Stephanie to be a competent, kind, and compassionate nurse. I have witnessed her be an advocate for her patients, remain calm in stressful situations, and show compassion and empathy for the most difficult patients. What I admire most about Stephanie is how humble she is. She is a great team member and is often the first one to volunteer to help a fellow nurse in need.
I have never appreciated Stephanie's exceptional nursing care as much as I did when I was stuck in a bed worrying about my child's safety. Stephanie could have cut corners knowing my knowledge base. She could have left me to watch my own fetal heart strip knowing that I would call her if I was concerned, but she was attentive and patient. She treated me like any other scared patient that was worried about her child and that is exactly what I needed. She was calm but moved quickly when it was clear my baby was in distress. Before I even told her that I was worried she had already contacted my physician. Her attentiveness to my care resulted in the quick delivery of my baby. If she had not been as attentive as she was I may not have gotten to take my baby home.
After my baby had been delivered I knew that I could focus solely on my baby's care because Stephanie was taking care of me. That peace of mind is priceless and I am so grateful for it. Some might say that I received that level of care because I work with Stephanie, but it was seeing her with other patients that made me want her to be my nurse, to begin with. I could not be more grateful for her. Stephanie deserves the DAISY Award for her exceptional nursing care that I have witnessed while working with her and while she was taking care of me. It is nurses like Stephanie that make Memorial Hermann a great place to work and to receive care.