Leading with Heart and Passion in Labor and Delivery

One of the reasons our nurses love working at Crouse is because we foster an environment where they can chase their passions. For Sarah Hitt, RN, that passion was – and still is – taking care of moms and babies on our Labor and Delivery unit. 

Her decision to become a nurse was very personal. As a young single mom, Sarah was inspired by her L&D nurse, Judy, who showed her kindness and compassion andshe knew she wanted to give back to others.

“I will never forget the way Judy treated me, and it is something I bring forward with every patient I encounter,” Sarah says. She emphasizes that in order to succeed in nursing, you must have a passion for what you do. 

Sarah started her nursing career as a student at the Pomeroy College of Nursing. Knowing she wanted to work in Labor and Delivery, she says:“It was a no-brainer that I would start at Crouse, as it is the New York State designated Regional Perinatal Center.”

After graduating in 2017, she began her nursing career on the postpartum floor where she built strong skills and gained experience before transitioning to the Labor and Delivery unit.

Over the course of almost a decade of working nights at Crouse, she has made lifelong friends who turned into family, watched many of her colleagues grow into leadership positions, stepped into a charge nurse role, and is a two-time DAISY Award recipient. 

Sarah approaches her job with heart. One of her DAISY nominations read:

 “She coached me through delivery like she was my biggest cheerleader. The way that she talked to me and supported me, she didn’t feel like a nurse in the room with me, she felt like she was my best friend. She was so sweet. She made me feel like I had known her forever.”

She is also known to go above and beyond for those in her care: “After delivery, she got my husband and my peanut butter and jelly sandwiches because the kitchen was closed. I believe she actually made them, as they seemed fresh.” 

Sarah knows first hand how time-sensitive and critical caregiving on L&D can be. 

“You’re using all nursing skills on this floor. It’s high-risk, we see every kind of patient, whether it’s a cardiac issue, micropreemie, triplets, etc. We’re responsible for giving patients the best experience possible,” she shares. 

“You’re seeing these patients on their worst days and their best days and while it can be very challenging and stressful on the floor, it’s also extremely rewarding,” she says.

For Sarah, the people she works alongside are just as meaningful as the work itself. “Crouse nurses not only support one another in their own profession to grow, but we’ve become friends and family along the way. It’s no longer just a job to me, it’s somewhere I want to be,” she shared. 

Our Labor and Delivery unit is currently seeking  passionate nurses like Sarah. If this sounds like something you’d like to be a part of, apply online at crouse.org/careers/rn.

Bianca Morales is the Social Media Coordinator at Crouse.