It brings happiness to see the smiles of young patients.
As the place that receives and cares for infants under 30 days old, the Neonatal Department of Nghe An Obstetrics and Pediatrics Hospital plays a crucial role in the early life journey of babies who need special medical care. Understanding this, for over 20 years working here, Ms. Le Thi Ly (born in 1980) - Head Nurse of the Neonatal Department - has always been dedicated to her work. For her, the greatest reward is seeing the smiles of mothers and patients when their little angels recover and become healthy.
Dedicated, calm
Early in the morning, inside the Neonatal ward of Nghe An Obstetrics and Pediatrics Hospital, the atmosphere was quiet, everyone was as gentle as possible so as not to disturb the fragile sleep of the babies. But in the hallway, the atmosphere gradually became more chaotic, the tension rising with a barrage of questions: "Doctor, is my grandchild doing well?", "When can the baby breastfeed normally again?", "Does the incubator need more blankets?"...
Despite these anxieties, Nurse Ly remained calm, meticulously checking each child's condition, guiding the nurses in performing care procedures, and gently reassuring the families of the young patients. This caring attitude helped many families feel more at ease as they accompanied their children through these difficult times.
In the Kangaroo Room,a place for caring for premature and low-birth-weight babies.Mr. Hoang Van Tuan (born in 1984, residing in Nam Dan district) is patiently holding his baby skin-to-skin on his chest, hoping that the baby will improve with the treatment plan. Looking at his tiny, red-faced child, he cannot hide his worry.
Mr. Tuan said that this time his wife gave birth to twins, so from the moment the babies were born, his wife assigned him the task of "taking care" of one of them. Although this wasn't his first time being a father, the fact that the babies were born underweight still made him anxious and sometimes clumsy. However, with the dedicated guidance of Ms. Le Thi Ly, he gradually became familiar with caring for the babies using the Kangaroo method – a method that helps stabilize breathing, strengthens the bond between parents and children, supports brain development, and reduces the risk of neonatal infections.
Taking a break after stressful hours, Ms. Ly shared that she was born and raised in Nghia Dan. In 2001, she graduated from the Nursing Department of Vinh Medical University and began working at Nghe An Obstetrics and Pediatrics Hospital. Initially, she worked in the Surgery Department, then transferred to the Intensive Care Unit. In 2005, the Neonatal Department was established, and she has been working there ever since.
Neonatal DepartmentThere are currently 10 patient rooms, including an emergency room, a kangaroo care room, a phototherapy room, a pneumonia room, and an infection room…
In 2024, the Department admitted and treated more than 4,000 pediatric patients. This means that each medical staff member had to handle a large workload, from caring for and monitoring the health of pediatric patients to performing specialized medical procedures.
In this work environment, the role of the head nurse becomes even more important, as they not only directly participate in caring for pediatric patients but also take responsibility for coordinating work, providing professional guidance, and ensuring that the care process is accurate and effective.
For many years, nursing graduate Le Thi Ly has consistently demonstrated meticulousness, thoughtfulness, and proactiveness in caring for pediatric patients and fulfilling assigned tasks. In particular, since her appointment as a ward nurse in 2014, she has not only excelled in her role but has also actively guided colleagues in accurately and effectively implementing new technical procedures.
Thanks to these efforts, she has been awarded the title of "Outstanding Emulation Soldier" at the grassroots level for nine consecutive years, and in 2012 won first prize in the "Excellent Nurse" competition organized by the hospital. In 2020 and 2022, she guided nurses in the department with knowledge, skills, and experience to participate in the competition and also won top prizes. This demonstrates her solid professional expertise and dedication to her profession.
Dr. Doan Thi Thanh Binh, MD, Specialist II - Head of Neonatology Department
A good doctor is like a loving mother.
Not only is Ms. Ly dedicated to her profession, but she is also a strong source of emotional support for many struggling families. Some children are born into dire circumstances, their parents are poor, and some even consider taking their children home because they can't afford treatment. Each time this happens, she is deeply concerned and seeks ways to call for help.
One case she can never forget is that of a child with HBL (Hepatitis B) from Muong Tip commune, Ky Son district. Because the child's family was so poor and couldn't afford the hospital fees, they were forced to decide to take the child home. Upon learning this, Ms. Ly immediately reported it to the department's leadership, and then, together with her colleagues, mobilized and appealed for help from various sources. Thanks to this timely support, the child's family had additional emotional and material support to complete the child's treatment until he recovered and was healthy.
Not long ago, the Neonatal Department also successfully saved a premature baby with respiratory failure and severe neonatal infection. This was a particularly special case of a premature baby born at 32 weeks, weighing only 1.1 kg, from a family residing in Thach Ha district, Ha Tinh province. After 27 days of treatment, under the care of the doctors in the department and nurse Le Thi Ly, the baby's weight increased to 1.9 kg. The baby was breathing on its own, had a sucking reflex, and was able to breastfeed.
After the baby recovered, upon learning about the extremely difficult family circumstances—the father being deaf and mute from birth, and the mother, Ms. D., being pregnant and suffering from Type 2 diabetes, having been hospitalized twice—Ms. Le Thi Ly, along with everyone in the Neonatal Department and other departments and wards of the hospital, organized a fundraising campaign to help the patient's family overcome their difficulties.
Such stories are indeed not uncommon in Ms. Ly's journey in the medical profession. After much effort, she has received many important awards such as the Commemorative Medal for Public Health from the Minister of Health in 2020; Certificates of Merit from the Chairman of the Provincial People's Committee in 2016 and 2019. This year, she is honored to be one of the outstanding individuals awarded the title of "Outstanding Doctor of Medicine 2025".
For over two decades, nurse Le Thi Ly has dedicated herself to her work, surrounded by the cries and laughter of little angels, tirelessly working shifts and sleepless nights. But for her, all that hardship becomes worthwhile when she sees a healthy baby return to the loving embrace of their family. That is the simple yet priceless happiness of a healthcare professional.
