Quick thinking and compassion lead to life-saving delivery
One nurse’s quick thinking, compassionate care, and trust in a patient’s instincts turned a concerning situation into a life-saving delivery.
Call it a mother’s intuition. What started as a nagging sense that something wasn’t right quickly turned into a life-saving moment for one patient thanks to Abby Blietz’s, RN, attentiveness and quick thinking in the Labor and Delivery Unit at the university campus.
The patient arrived to the unit after experiencing abdominal pressure for several days. While initial assessments suggested it might be something minor, the patient followed their instincts and sought care.
Blietz worked triage that day and was having an especially busy shift, but she still met the patient with a smile, listened to their concerns, and reassured the patient that it's always good to get a thorough check.
Blietz gave the patient an ultrasound and quickly identified a serious issue — the baby was having fetal heart rate decelerations, which required immediate intervention. What came next was a blur for the patient, but Blietz’s quick thinking and compassion through the labor and delivery process stood out.
Showing compassion in high-stress moments
Blietz promptly called the physicians into the room, contacted the patient’s spouse, and guided the patient through different birthing positions to help stabilize the baby’s heart rate. When those efforts weren’t successful, the care team moved swiftly. Within 30 minutes, the patient was taken to the operating room for an emergency C-section.
Blietz remained a steady source of encouragement throughout the stressful experience, keeping the patient calm and informing them of each step along the way.
"I talked her through everything,” Blietz says. “I try to stay very calm when patients are having a lot of anxiety. I remember saying to her, ‘I will stay with you.’”
Blietz’s unwavering support during the high-stress moment earned her a DAISY Award and left a lasting impression on the patient that remains with them today.
“I can still hear Abby saying, 'If I were in your shoes, I would want a hug, so I am going to give you one right now,’” the patient wrote in their nomination form. “Abby hugged me the entire time I was being wheeled to the operating room.”
The patient’s spouse arrived with what seemed like seconds to spare before the baby was delivered. Blietz went back to her shift in triage but was sure to visit the patient and baby in the recovery room after the delivery.
“I went and checked on them afterwards, and remember saying, ‘I am so glad that you came in and followed your instincts,’” Blietz says. “It was a happy ending, but it could have been a very different outcome if this patient didn’t trust herself.”
When Blietz welcomed her first child, the exceptional care she received during labor and delivery inspired her to pursue a career in the field — a choice she is thankful for every day.
“I truly love taking care of pregnant patients and helping them have safe deliveries,” Blietz shares. “We get everything, from preeclamptic patients and those who have gestational diabetes to diagnoses that I've never even heard of before. You're constantly using your critical thinking skills to keep your patients and their babies safe.”
As a nurse herself, Blietz’s patient shared that she will never forget the impact Blietz had on their growing family.
“While I remember how scary this day was, I have a beautiful, healthy child because of it,” they wrote. “I also know this may not have been the case if it hadn’t been for Abby. She has made an ever-lasting impact on our growing family and my personal nursing practice as I try to echo the words she gave me that day.”
