Code Pink
OneWorld staff work together to help laboring mother
Members of the Women’s Health team who assisted with the Code Pink.
Updated Jan. 31, 2025
In December 2022, a OneWorld patient entered the Women’s Health clinic at the Livestock Exchange Health campus for her prenatal appointment. The front desk staff noticed the expectant mother was uncomfortable and appeared to be in pain, so she was immediately taken to an exam room for evaluation.
Within minutes a “Code Pink” was called; the mother was in labor.
“I was coming out of another exam room and I heard the nurses talking to each other about calling a Code Pink,” said Certified Nurse Midwife Meredith Rudish, CNM. “I quickly went to the exam room to help.”
In the exam room, Rudish said Family Medicine Physician Peter Schindler, MD, took the lead to comfort the patient while Registered Nurse Diana Bruguera, RN, helped talk the patient through her contractions. Meanwhile, Rudish stood by with gloves on, ready to catch the baby if needed.
The team learned the patient had begun laboring at home. By the time she reached OneWorld for her scheduled prenatal appointment, she was completely dilated.
Outside of the exam room, many OneWorld clinicians, nurses and health assistants took care of the other steps for the code, from calling the patient’s emergency contact, gathering emergency supplies and maintaining the laboring mother’s privacy.
“Once we knew the ambulance was on its way and that nothing dangerous was happening, I took a deep breath and looked over my shoulder,” said Rudish. “I saw … very seasoned labor and delivery nurses, and I thought ‘we’re good.’”
Emergency medical services quickly transferred the mother to Nebraska Medicine, and she delivered her healthy baby soon after. Both mother and baby recovered well and returned to OneWorld several days later for the newborn’s first appointment, much to the joy of the Code Pink team and OneWorld.
While Code Pinks are rare, OneWorld health assistants, nurses and clinicians remain ready.
Team members credited their ability to work well together, along with prior clinical experience, for their rapid and robust response – even on a Friday afternoon near closing time.
The quick response across the Livestock Exchange Health campus was a testament to OneWorld’s dedication to providing quality care for patients from the very beginning of life and beyond.
At OneWorld, We Care for All People.
