Tara Swartz and Sherry Kwater, CNO
June 2014
Tara
Swartz
,
BSN, RNC
Women's Health
Penn State Milton S. Hershey Medical Center
Hershey
,
PA
United States

 

 

 

Tara was assigned to the labor and delivery area of Women's Health. A patient on the Inpatient Cancer Unit was 24 weeks pregnant and receiving life-saving chemotherapy treatments for a malignant brain tumor. Unfortunately, her baby did not survive and the patient had gone into labor overnight and was rapidly progressing. Tara coached the patient through painful contractions, as there wasn't time for pain medications. The baby delivered and instead of happy tears and baby cries, there was only silence.

After delivery, Tara cared for the patient's physical well-being and the emotional needs of the patient and her family. The family held the baby and had pictures taken by Now I Lay Me Down to Sleep. Tara's ability to accommodate the patient's needs during a difficult time exemplifies her nursing skills and compassion and serves as an example for other nurses.