A new family was ready to be discharged when the charge RN that day volunteered to go help with the process. When Weronika entered the room, she did a quick evaluation of all and noted that coloring on the newborn was "off." She turned the lights on and did a more thorough assessment.

She told the newborn's mother that she was worried about the baby's coloring. The new mother said, " Oh, good I was, too, but didn't say anything." Weronika did an assessment on the newborn and called for the NICU RN to evaluate the newborn as well. There was some back-and-forth discussion about the baby potentially being dehydrated or just coming off phototherapy.

 Weronika was insistent and called the newborn's physician, who wrote an order for the newborn to be observed in the NICU. By the next morning, the newborn was transported to Stanford Children's Hospital with coarctation of the aorta. This is a congenital heart defect that may not be readily apparent until the ductus arteriosis closes at about 24 hours of age.

Of note, the newborn passed the Critical Congenital Heart Disease Screen, so Weronika's physical assessment was of utmost importance and not relying on previous findings. Weronika's attention to detail and keen assessment likely prevented a tragic event for this newborn and family.