11
From Nurse-family partnership mom
to nurse-family partnership nurse
China, a 21-year-old, senior nursing student, found out she was pregnant on a rainy morning, when a simple hunch led her to take the dollar-store pregnancy test she had stowed away in one of her duffel bags. The preceding months had been markedly difficult for China, who had found herself in an unstable living situation and struggling to maintain reliable transportation to school and work. Her aunt and uncle welcomed China into their home in Darlington, South Carolina, with open arms and one condition: she would finish her education. China was going to be the first in her family to graduate from college.
The first person she shared the surprise with was her Aunt Sandy, whom she had grown to love and look up to as a mother. Her aunt had been outside in the car waiting on China so that they could run some errands on China’s rare day off. Inside the house, having just seen the results of the pregnancy test, China sat on the floor of the guestroom trying to wrap her mind around being a single mom. Finally recognizing that the horn of her aunt’s car was blaring impatiently for her, China stepped outside. The expression on China’s face, one of shock and fear, sent her aunt running to the door wondering what could be wrong. China held the test out to her Aunt Sandy without muttering a word. She did not have to say anything. The two pink lines in the result window of the pregnancy test said it all – the errands of the day would have to wait.
The reality of the road ahead began to sink in. China thought about the lack of consistent female role models in her life. Sure, she imagined that she would have become a mom someday, but not under these circumstances. She was in her last semester of nursing school and working two jobs, one as a waitress in town and the other as an assistant for a dog kennel located a few counties away. It was clear to China from the very beginning that she was going to be a single parent. She wanted to give her child the best and grew worried about providing and acquiring the resources to do so. Despite her anxieties, China was certain about one thing: she was determined to be a better version of herself for her growing family.
The next day, China started researching how to access good prenatal care with limited resources. She went to the public health department and learned how to apply for Medicaid. China also heard about WIC and Nurse-Family Partnership.
Later in the semester, Nurse-Family Partnership came up again in her public health nursing class and she had the opportunity to shadow a Nurse-Family Partnership nurse. Right away, she knew that this program was something she wanted. After graduating from nursing school, China called Nurse-Family Partnership to enroll into the program. Later that week, Heather – her new personal nurse – visited her at her aunt’s house and she enthusiastically enrolled.
It was during one of her visits that China felt comfortable enough to confide in Heather. Heather had shared with China that she too was a single mother. China had recently discovered an apartment for rent close-by, but was nervous about taking such a big leap and making it on her own. With Heather’s encouragement and knowledge, China gained a fresh perspective and became more confident and assertive with her choices.
The next visit took place at China own apartment. China knew that it was going to be challenging hang her own place, but was willing to take a chance to provide the best life for her child.