Mandeep Gutenberg (Mandy) lives four minutes — door to door — from her nearest neighbourhood hospital. But on the day she brought her first baby into the world, she decided to take a detour.
“It was straight to North York General Hospital (NYGH) for me,” she says. “And that’s been the same for baby two and baby three as well. I wouldn’t have had it any other way.”
Mandeep Gutenberg (Mandy) lives four minutes — door to door — from her nearest neighbourhood hospital. But on the day she brought her first baby into the world, she decided to take a detour.
“It was straight to North York General Hospital (NYGH) for me,” she says. “And that’s been the same for baby two and baby three as well. I wouldn’t have had it any other way.”
And yet despite this trio of memorable visits, to say that Mandy is ‘familiar with NYGH’s Labour and Delivery unit’ would be an understatement. Why? Because she’s been working as a nurse in that same department for the last 15 years.
“Knowing the ability and skill of NYGH’s Labour and Delivery team so intimately… I literally trusted them with my life — with my babies’ lives,” she says. “I faced some very unexpected complications during two of my deliveries and the absolute confidence I had in these people throughout… I never doubted we were safe.”
As unique a situation as these were — many of Mandy’s delivery team had been guests at her wedding — she says examples of the family-strong bond shared by North York General staff are plentiful. In fact, that tangible bond is something she’s grown accustomed to since stepping onto the unit floor for the first time in 2009.
“As a nurse I was a newbie, fresh out of school,” she says. “I was scared but I remember meeting an OB who said very warmly and genuinely, ‘you’re going to love it here’.”
“Hospitals can be very intimidating places, for patients and new staff, but everyone was so friendly and I felt like a calm come over me. Every day since I’ve felt just as welcomed and supported.”
Mandy says that that sentiment of care extends to the community – who she knows has rallied close together over the years to ensure that nurses, physicians and the entire North York General Hospital team remain here for life.
“I think it’s important that donors know that we see the effects of their generosity every day — and not just when vital new equipment arrives on-site,” she says. “For example our nurses lounge. We work 12 hour shifts, sometimes we don’t get breaks. To be able to sit comfortably in a chair and watch TV as if we were at home, those things that might seem like small differences make a huge impact on us nurses.”
In that same context of aesthetics and space, Mandy adds that projects such as the revitalization of the Birthing Centre including the Labour & Delivery’s family lounge has an even greater impact on NYGH’s patient community.
“When you’re getting the best care you’ve ever had, but the surroundings are showing their age, there is a true disconnect,” she says. “When you have a bright and warm room and the best care ever — it doesn’t get much better than that for a patient.”
For nurses who have recently joined or are soon joining the staff, Mandy encourages them to be proud of being a nurse and to be proud of working at North York General Hospital.
“I know I am,” she says, “All these years later. I know sometimes in the beginning the atmosphere of a hospital can be overwhelming. But stick it out — because there’s no better place to be.”
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