In my career as a Labor and Delivery nurse, I have worked alongside many individuals who can be classified as extraordinary nurse. However, one nurse who stands out is Cindy Austin. She is our night shift charge nurse that keeps us grounded in the chaos. Cindy is always willing to jump in and help a fellow nurse, resident, or patient. It can be just to go grab supplies, help coordinate admissions, or simply grabbing an extra blanket for a family member.

When we are in a delivery, her presence is reassuring. The nurse at the bedside can focus on the patient and family while she is quietly waiting to assist in any way she can. I have watched her jump in and start coaching a mother who was struggling and saying, “I can’t do this!” She reassured them that they could and helped until she did.

I have been in deliveries where the NICU was at the bedside, and she has helped them assess the baby and go to the mother and explain to her what was happening at that moment in time with her baby. Reassuring her that the NICU team was there to help. In that chaos, she made sure the patient was being informed about the situation with her newborn.

After a delivery, she’s the nurse behind the scenes, making sure we have everything we need to help recover our new mom and infant. From starting our postpartum medication and helping get the room cleaned up, she is there. If we are in the OR for a cesarean section, she’s there making sure that we are getting our accounts done and calculating our QBL. She’s also helping the surgeons and scrub tech gather supplies. Then after, she will help us get our patients back to PACU.

Those are just examples of patient care. When I first came to St. Vincent two years ago she immediately made me feel welcome. She encouraged me to ask questions and never made me feel like I was a burden. She was always willing to take the time to help me whether it was in a delivery, charting, or just ti listen. Unknowingly she became my own personal mentor and example of what kind of nurse I wanted to be.

If you ask almost any nightshift nurse on our unit you will probably get a similar story. Everyone who works with her know can go to her with anything. Whether she is listening to us on a personal level or a professional level she is there for us. She listens to us when we are frustrated, upset or scared. She takes the time to make us feel cared about and seen. Many of us have gone to her when we have doubted our abilities and she has reassured us, we can do this.

She never makes you feel belittled or alone. Which is what every unit and nurse needs. Not only is she respected and loved amongst the nursing staff our residents and attendees feel the same way. If you go speak to them, they would collectively say that Cindy is one of the best Charge nurses they work with.

She helps coordinate with them to admit patients and help get them safely delivered. The residents feel they can go to her and speak to her professionally, even if sometimes they don’t agree on things. When our residents have questions about policy or situations, they aren’t sure about they feel they can go to Cindy to get get the correct answer and not be judge or belittled. They know when Cindy is at the helm that no matter whatever happens, we have a strong leader amongst us.

Cindy is one of the most humble people you’ll ever meet. If you think her on any level, she will tell you it’s not a big deal. However, it is a big deal. She is part of the reason some of us have stayed even when we wanted to quit. Most of us cannot imagine being without her on the unit. Cindy is our quiet, dependable, compassionate leader who deserves this recognition.