Alicia Hendrickson, RN

I was admitted to the Labor & Delivery unit at Lourdes Guthrie Hospital after my water broke at 37 weeks pregnant. Naturally, I was a nervous wreck because we weren’t expecting a baby for at least another couple of weeks, and the sight of how much blood was in the amniotic fluid that was coming out of me had me terrified. I called ahead to let the emergency department know that we were on our way, so they were expecting me when we arrived. I was quickly greeted by the kindest nurse named Alicia, who I will be forever grateful for. She stayed with me for those first few hours of labor, keeping me calm and explaining everything to expect along the way. Eventually, the clock reached 7 am and Alicia’s shift was ending. I was brokenhearted. By then, she had been caring for me for about five hours. She had fully gained my trust, and I was scared to continue laboring without her. She assured me she’d be back later that evening, and we joked about whether I’d have a baby before then. Lo and behold, I had not. It was a long day of slow progression. I decided to get the epidural about 12 hours in, hoping to get some relief. The epidural helped to take the edge off for a few hours, but the pain ended up coming back with vengeance by the evening; Just in time for Alicia to return.

Just like the night before, Alicia kept doing everything she could to keep me comfortable. She became my calm in the storm by patiently coaching me through different laboring positions and helping to ease my anxiety with each contraction. It felt like I had known her a lifetime, a friend guiding me through the most significant moment of my life. Her empathy and compassion for her patient in those moments were absolutely unmatched. Alicia advocated for me with other healthcare professionals at the facility, making my health and comfort her top priority. She explained things that other staff members only skimmed, knowing I needed more detail to ease my anxious mind. She stayed with me through all of the challenges, including my eventual unplanned C-section that took place at 1:34 am. She provided clear and realistic expectations for every phase of labor that we encountered together and was the first face that I saw when I woke up in recovery, which brought me instant comfort. I fully trusted her to take care of me and look out for my best interests because she made it a point to hear my wishes and concerns before offering suggestions on how to move forward in every single scenario.

When expressing my disappointment with my failed birth plan, she counseled me by sharing her own personal birth stories and disappointments that came along with them. She spent extra time and went the extra mile to tend not only to my physical needs, but my emotional ones as well. Alicia stayed with me through recovery and those early morning hours after my daughter was born, ending her last shift with us at 7 again that morning. My hospital stay lasted another four days, and even though Alicia was never assigned to our room again, she continued to stop in and check on us when she could to make sure that we were doing okay. She genuinely cared about our well-being, and I will never forget her. Alicia’s work as a labor and delivery nurse embodies everything the DAISY Award represents, and I’ve never met a more deserving nurse. She represents the very best of nursing, and it was clear this profession is her true calling.