Sue Contestable, BSN, NRP, NALS
Staff Nurse

Background

I earned my Bachelor of Science in Nursing at Niagara University (north of Niagara Falls, NY). I worked at another Rochester area hospital after graduation on a large medical floor. It was a great learning experience and provided me with a solid background, but after four years I was ready for a change. While at Highland, I received my Neonatal Resusitation Program certification.   

Time at Highland Hospital

I came to Highland Hospital in 1985 after my friend who worked here on the labor floor suggested I might like a smaller hospital. She said if I was interested in maternity, this was the place to work. She was impressed with its sense of community and friendly atmosphere and thought it might be a better fit for me. People really work together here. I've found that Highland's great reputation is well deserved.  

Career Path at Highland Hospital

After a year in Med/Surg I moved to the Family Maternity Center Postpartum Unit as a Staff Nurse. I've worked here ever since. I've been cross trained to the labor and delivery area and also help out in the Special Care Nursery if their census is high. As a postpartum nurse, you also rotate into Newborn Nursery. Most of our nurses specialize in one area, but there are a few who enjoy rotating between two areas, usually doing two weeks on one unit, then two weeks on the other.   

My Dominant Personality Traits

I'm responsible, dedicated, and flexible—must-be traits for any nurse. I like to help people. And I'm caring and calm. Having a new baby is a time of significant change in the lives of the mom and dad. So even though it's usually a joyful time, it can also be stressful. It's a particularly rewarding experience to help parents bond with their newborn and to get them off to the right start. Of course, there are occasions when things don't go as planned and I need to call on all my resources to help parents mourn the loss of their infant. Empathy and compassion are two of my strengths and it helps me to know they're also a big component of Highland's mission and purpose.    

About the Postpartum Unit

I had my own children at Highland and the nurses were incredible. I'm happy to be carrying on the tradition. 

PP offers a different pace and clientele than other areas. It's definitely less intense than a unit like critical care, but by no means is it "slow." In fact, I think we're one of the busiest PP units in the region because of the popularity of Highland's Family Maternity Center.
 
This is not an area for the disorganized. Patient turnover is fast and it can be challenging to keep up. We get the mother/baby couplets on the floor 1-3 hours after the birth, with the longer times being for c-sections. I generally take care of four mother/baby pairs but the numbers vary. We have a big staff and it's not uncommon to only take care of a patient once. In addition to all the standard tasks of assessments, meds, and pain management, we do a lot of teaching. We educate moms about basic newborn care, assist them with breastfeeding, and share information about the symptoms of postpartum depression. We provide support for the entire family. 

Because we have to pack a lot into a short amount of time, our team has to be very collaborative. We have a lot of communication. We have a dedicated safety nurse and charge nurses who are great at solving problems. Our managers and unit leaders have been here a long time and know what it takes to keep the unit running smoothly. We have great social workers, secretaries, and techs who pitch in wherever and whenever they're needed. Everyone is positive and flexible.

This job satisfies me every day. My management makes me feel valued. I love teaching and the interaction with new families. I'm encouraged to offer suggestions on ways to improve our delivery of care as well as employee job satisfaction. My goal for the future is to continue working right here—at Highland and on this unit!