By Debra Wood, RN, contributor
When CNN legal analyst and anchor Nancy Grace developed pregnancy-related medical problems, she went to Northside Hospital in Atlanta and encountered a host of compassionate nurses prepared to ensure the best outcomes possible.
“The nursing care started immediately,” said Grace, 48. “I went to Northside Hospital not planning to have a baby that day. I went in unable to breathe and ended up having pulmonary edema and blood clots in my lungs.”
Physicians induced Grace at 33 weeks. She delivered John David at 5 pounds, one ounce, and Lucy Elizabeth, at 2 pounds, 15 ounces, on November 4, 2007.
“The nurses were so kind,” Grace said. “Especially the nurses in the neonatal unit, the NICU, they were beyond my dreams of what nurses would be.”
Grace raved about the care and teaching provided by NICU nurse Susan Mason, RN.
“She taught me how to change diapers and how to feed the babies and take care of them,” Grace said. “I still email her questions. She is so wonderful. Shr even stopped by the house after they were released from the hospital to see how the twins were doing.”
The new mom found it difficult to leave the babies at the hospital, especially when Lucy remained there by herself. Grace and her husband, David, visited every day during the babies several months-long stay.
“They had been very, very sick when they were first born,” Grace says.
Mason denies doing anything special for the new mom or the small, but perfect, babies.
“I did my job, and it’s a job I love,” Mason said. “I try to provide an environment where parents can heal and bond with their babies, and feel like they are parents.”
Mason says she tries to place herself in the parent’s place. She draws on the wisdom of Florence Nightingale to heal and to do no harm when providing care.
Grace also praised Mary Ann Davidson, RN, clinical supervisor for progressive cardiac care and the cardiac care unit. The anchor spent two weeks in the hospital.
“She made me feel whatever I asked was not a bother,” Grace said. “She spent a lot of time talking to me and talking about the children and their health issues and blood clots. It was beyond anything I expected.”
When Grace couldn’t keep food down, a nurse brought in supplies, so she could make a banana milkshake.
“They did so much every day for me,” Grace said.
Davidson also says she did nothing special because of her patient’s celebrity.
“I treated her like I treat all my patients,” Davidson said. “I always try to treat patients like a family member. She and I were about the same age, and I shared some of my experience when I had my son. That seemed to ease her fears and open the lines of communication.”
Davidson took the opportunity to educate her patient about the disease process. She always makes a special effort.
“I did my job,” Davidson said. “It’s the little things patients remember.”
The babies are doing well. Lucy now weighs about 10 pounds. Grace works from home during the day and goes to the studio at night to broadcast her show from 8 p.m. until 9 p.m.
“Before the end of the music is over, I have unhooked myself and am walking out the door to come back home,” Grace said.
This was Grace’s first experience as a hospital patient, and she feels grateful for the attention the nurses gave her.
“I cannot thank them enough,” Grace said. “I felt I had the greatest care, and that I had friends that cared about me and about the twins. It made all of the difference in the world.”
© 2008. AMN Healthcare, Inc. All Rights Reserved.