Ellen Potter
February 2026
Ellen
Potter
,
RN, RNC-OB
Labor and Delivery
Advocate Illinois Masonic Medical Center
Chicago
,
IL
United States
She is an amazing nurse and human being. She’s kind, she’s so intelligent and knowledgeable about her field, and she was my advocate.
Ellen was my godsend during my traumatic labor and delivery experience at Illinois Masonic. She was the second nurse that I was so lucky to have on Wednesday morning. She came into my room with a smile, introduced herself, and talked to me as if I were not only her patient but also someone she genuinely cared about. She expressed excitement about me having a baby, and she hoped that I would be able to deliver during her shift. She gave me hope.
While I was under her care, I had been experiencing issues with my epidural from the previous night. She reassured me that it was okay to call her at any moment if I felt pain, and she immediately contacted the anesthesiologist to help me without question. She positioned my body to not only help the baby reposition but also to keep me comfortable. She knew I was having pains on my right side, so she coached me through different positions and asked me if it was okay to rotate me on each side for a set amount of minutes, depending on my pain tolerance. She always came back when she said she would. She kept me clean when I couldn’t move my lower body. She helped my family understand what was going on.
After her shift was over, I had to transition back to a different nurse, which was when my labor experience took a negative turn. After over 24 hours of intense labor, I delivered my sweet baby.
When I was talking to the mother and baby unit, I ran into Ellen, and she embraced me with love and reassurance. She visited me twice during my time in postpartum care. The first time, she came to my room and listened to my story. No judgments. Just listening ears. She provided me with information and the next steps, and she gave me the biggest hug that I needed in that moment.
The second time she visited me was on my last day. She came to say hello and to deliver a Bulls box of onesies and other baby stuff because she knew my husband loved basketball.
She is an amazing nurse and human being. She’s kind, she’s so intelligent and knowledgeable about her field, and she was my advocate. I’m so lucky that she was my nurse, and while I hated my experience at this hospital, I loved that I was able to meet her.
Thank you so much, Ellen. I’m at peace with my delivery because I have my handsome, healthy baby boy, and because I met you.
***
This is Ellen's 2nd DAISY Award!
While I was under her care, I had been experiencing issues with my epidural from the previous night. She reassured me that it was okay to call her at any moment if I felt pain, and she immediately contacted the anesthesiologist to help me without question. She positioned my body to not only help the baby reposition but also to keep me comfortable. She knew I was having pains on my right side, so she coached me through different positions and asked me if it was okay to rotate me on each side for a set amount of minutes, depending on my pain tolerance. She always came back when she said she would. She kept me clean when I couldn’t move my lower body. She helped my family understand what was going on.
After her shift was over, I had to transition back to a different nurse, which was when my labor experience took a negative turn. After over 24 hours of intense labor, I delivered my sweet baby.
When I was talking to the mother and baby unit, I ran into Ellen, and she embraced me with love and reassurance. She visited me twice during my time in postpartum care. The first time, she came to my room and listened to my story. No judgments. Just listening ears. She provided me with information and the next steps, and she gave me the biggest hug that I needed in that moment.
The second time she visited me was on my last day. She came to say hello and to deliver a Bulls box of onesies and other baby stuff because she knew my husband loved basketball.
She is an amazing nurse and human being. She’s kind, she’s so intelligent and knowledgeable about her field, and she was my advocate. I’m so lucky that she was my nurse, and while I hated my experience at this hospital, I loved that I was able to meet her.
Thank you so much, Ellen. I’m at peace with my delivery because I have my handsome, healthy baby boy, and because I met you.
***
This is Ellen's 2nd DAISY Award!