Nurse’s empathetic guidance helps patients and their infants go from struggle to success in MBCU
Claudia Bedell’s exceptional empathy toward patients in the Mother-Baby Care Unit (MBCU) earns her a DAISY Award.
As every new parent will tell you, the first few weeks and months after welcoming a newborn are exhausting. It’s easy for new mothers to quickly feel overwhelmed, especially if struggling with breastfeeding, lactating, or other issues that can arise after giving birth.
As both a mother and a nurse herself, Claudia Bedell, BSN, RN, knows that showing extra care during this vulnerable time can make all the difference. So, when she noticed a patient struggling with breastfeeding her newborn, she immediately stepped in to help.
“Claudia knew I struggled nursing my first child, so she brought in a lactation consultant, stayed, and assisted us when we were struggling with latching,” notes the patient. “She ordered additional medication to help me heal and gave numerous tips on how to get my milk in faster.”
In addition, Bedell knew the patient was struggling with pain management after undergoing a C-section, so she provided her with an abdominal binder and additional heating pads. “We appreciated her personal touch, advice from her own experiences, and her willingness to share her expertise with both me and my husband,” the patient says. “We were extremely lucky to have her as part of my care team.”
Extending an empathetic ear
Bedell says that when it comes to helping her patients in the Mother-Baby Care Unit (MBCU), her first step is to simply listen to what they have to say to ensure they receive the best possible care. She’ll often refer to her own experiences as a mom to help empathize and relate to her patients.
“My patient care philosophy is really just a lot of listening to the patient, and a big part of that includes empathy,” Bedell says. “If you were in that situation, what kind of care would you like to get?”
She notes that it’s important to keep patients in her unit who are struggling with breastfeeding calm and help guide them through their different challenges.
“Many patients want to breastfeed, but there can be so many obstacles that permit them from doing so successfully” she notes. “If you’ve done all that you can do and the patient is still struggling, my suggestion is to reach for somebody else on your team who can help—which in this case was our lactation consultant.”
Helping patients turn struggles into successes
Bedell aims to provide this same standard of care to all her patients in the MBCU. She feels proud when she hears she makes a difference in the lives of patients and their infants.
“I got a text message once from one of the doulas I work with that said, ‘This patient was struggling so much with breastfeeding, and she said if it wasn’t for you, she probably wouldn’t have breastfed her child,’” Bedell says. “Those kinds of things touch you, because you know you’ve done something good for them.”
Bedell says she’s proud to work for UI Health Care because of the high level of care everyone provides for their patients.
“I got a card from one of my patients and it was very touching because it makes you feel like you’ve made a difference for them,” Bedell says. “I really love my job, and I love my people—all the people I encounter through work.”
