Linda McDermott, night shift lead nurse in labor and delivery at Ronald Reagan UCLA Medical Center, has spent nearly three decades assisting couples when their “big day” occurs at night. Tiffani Quach interviewed McDermott for UCLA Health’s Employee News, where this story originally appeared.
What is your role as a night shift nurse in labor and delivery?
When a woman is in labor, I assist with alternative comfort techniques. This may include helping her to labor in the shower, alternating hot and cold packs, giving massages or using acupressure or aromatherapy. As a labor nurse, it’s important to keep your voice calm, to keep the lighting low and to keep the environment soothing because the patient looks to you as a source of reassurance in a chaotic situation. I also help with patient admissions and provide care in the nursery as needed. Another part of my job involves teaching classes to the staff about fetal monitoring, natural childbirth, neonatal resuscitation and breastfeeding.
Do you enjoy working nights?
I have worked the night shift from 7 p.m. to 7:30 a.m. since I began nursing. I love it! Labors and deliveries don’t follow a clock. Babies come when they’re ready to come, so the nights here can be every bit as busy as the days. For me, the nights feel less chaotic. During the day, you have more visitors coming and going, more hustle and bustle and noise. Nights have a steadier, quieter rhythm. Because there are fewer outside distractions, there’s more time to interact and bond with patients one-on-one. This gives nighttime activities a more intimate feel.
Tell us about the Unit Practice Council.
For the past six years, I have served as chair of our Unit Practice Council, which is composed of 15 leaders from our perinatal department. We work on patient satisfaction, plan staff appreciation activities and serve as a sounding board for employees who are having issues at work. As chair, I create a monthly unit newsletter and calendar to keep staff informed of important personal and professional happenings like birthdays, work anniversaries and retirements. I also coordinate an annual toy drive and holiday party for the perinatal unit — all donated toys go to children at the hospital via the UCLA Chase Child Life Program.
What do you love most about your job?
I get to be a part of one of the most momentous days in a couple’s life. After childbirth, I love helping moms learn to breastfeed. It’s so rewarding when a baby has an effective latch after failed prior attempts and the mom realizes she really can do this.
Do you have a favorite birth story?
One of my patients was very determined to have a natural, non-medicated childbirth. She was in a lot of pain and screaming with every contraction. To help her through this, I massaged her feet and used some foot reflexology and acupressure points. She loved it. She said I became her focal point and begged me not to stop. I did this for three hours. Her labor went fairly quickly and she pushed the baby out in record time. She was so grateful and said if I hadn’t been there to keep her calm with the foot rub that she would have asked for pain medication or perhaps an epidural. She also told everyone her feet were the softest ever.
How did you become a labor and delivery nurse?
My father was an obstetrician/gynecologist. I grew up listening to him tell stories about delivering babies. I knew from an early age that I wanted to help families experience the beauty and joy of childbirth, too.
What are some of your outside interests and hobbies?
I love to bake and decorate cakes. I taught myself how to do it from watching cake-decorating shows on TV. I make cupcakes for departmental birthdays and cakes for residents who are graduating. The cakes can be elaborate. Coworkers now ask me to make cakes for their kids’ birthdays, baby showers and weddings outside of work. I have so much fun with it. To help burn off the calories I take in from sampling while baking and cooking, I jog at the beach or I wakeboard. In the winter, I like to ski or snowboard with my family, including my 18- and 20-year-old sons. I love spending time outdoors with them.
