Jackson
Airhart
December 2019
Jackson
Airhart
,
RN, BSN
Stephen F. Austin State University; DeWitt School of Nursing
Nacogdoches
,
TX
United States

 

 

 

Having a wife in labor can be very intimidating for a husband. When students in white scrubs walk in to care for their loved ones, some patients become even more anxious. During his rotation in Labor and Delivery during his third semester, Jackson did not allow this to be an option. He walked right into the room and introduced himself to his patient, and then stepped over and shook the husband's hand.  Patient care in this setting is family-centered, and Jackson provided just that. He helped the husband feel at ease in this environment and showed the husband how he could be involved, purely by role modeling for him. He did not shy away from assisting with bedpans, changing pads, or supporting the mom with breastfeeding, and influenced the husband to do the same. He truly supported the whole family. His preceptor stated, "He is one of the best nursing students I have had!" and the faculty wholeheartedly agreed.