By the UC Davis Health Children’s Hospital Newsroom
For the past 22 years, Kimmi Gutierrez has been a labor and delivery nurse at UC Davis Health. In the latest issue of the UC Davis Children’s Hospital newsletter, Progress Notes, Kimmi answered questions about her career, delivering babies and how no two workdays are ever alike.
What’s your average day like?
An “average” day here is neither average nor typical! It is one of the things I love about my job. Most people think that in labor and delivery, our jobs are the same every day: We deliver babies. But that just is not the case. One day, I may work in our triage area, which is an emergency room for pregnant women, each coming in with very difficult complaints. Yes, contractions are on the list, but so are chest pain, shortness of breath, and other symptoms. Another day, I may come in and have the amazing pleasure of helping a woman get through labor and, ultimately, deliver a baby. I love those days! Occasionally, we help a woman get through the worst time of her life, losing a baby. Those days are tough. My experience is never “average” though — that I can count on.
What’s the most rewarding part of your job?
Having a baby is one of the most amazing and memorable moments in a person’s life. It is something that people plan and have spent months preparing for. They walk through our doors and put all their hopes and dreams into our hands. To help a mother through this process and do my best to get her the outcome she desires is extremely rewarding.
What’s the experience like for a patient at a hospital-based birth center?
A labor experience in a hospital birth center involves a team of highly trained nurses and doctors. There is a preconceived idea that delivering in a hospital equates to a very interventional birth. I would like to say that while we are trained to handle high-risk situations, we are also skilled in low-risk deliveries. We like to talk to our patients about their personal situations and desires, and formulate a plan together as a team.
What do you think sets UC Davis apart from other hospitals and birth centers?
I believe that UC Davis nurses are outstanding. We are trained in, and practice, the most up-to-date, evidence-based medicine. Whenever I attend a regional or national conference, UC Davis is always ahead of the game. What I love is that we are constantly evolving and changing our practices as new research and evidence guides us. We want to be the best and provide the best care, and I believe that we do.