Sunday, February 24, 2008

"The Perfect Role"

ADVANCE NURSING MAGAZINE has just released an article about Dee and her new book, The Baby Schedule Ruler. Check out what her CELEBRITY CLIENTS have to say . . .

1 comment:

Jacilyn said...

The Perfect Role
Providing award-winning care for newborns of Hollywood A-Listers
By Luke Cowles

Making the switch from clinical practice to private home care can be quite a change for some nurses. When your clients are A-list Hollywood actors and actresses, that transition comes with an entirely unique set of challenges all its own. For Dee Rule, baby nurse to the stars, it’s a role she was born to play.

Peace of Mind
It doesn’t matter how famous someone might be, having a baby can be a stressful experience, especially if it happens to be the first child in the family. As a professional baby nurse, Rule is there from the moment the mother and child leave the hospital, offering education, alleviating fears and providing care for the baby.
“I’m there for the parents as a 24-hour advisor,” Rule explained. “That gives them such peace of mind knowing they have ready access to someone with experience and don’t really have to wait until the morning and try to reach the pediatrician.”
Rule commits herself full time to a family, usually for the first 3 months of the baby’s life. During that time, she educates the mother on issues like breast pumping, breast care and tends to the child while the mother gets the appropriate amount of rest. Different clients have different needs. Rule often finds herself working 12-hour days, being on call or even living with the families. It’s all about what works best for them.
“I try to be as flexible as I can to accommodate the family’s needs,” Rule stressed. “Every economic and social background structure is so different, so I adapt to fit into their routine.”

Flexibility in a Flash
The lifestyles of the rich and famous don’t often follow a traditional schedule. Tending to such clients requires Rule to be ready to run on a minute’s notice.
“I get calls that say, tomorrow I’m going to Hawaii or to get ready because this evening I’ll be jumping on a plane to England,” Rule laughed. “It’s wonderful but it’s a whirlwind!
“The clients expect that you know how to travel. Some people don’t,” Rule continued. “By that I mean being able to leave on very short notice, travel lightly and quickly or handle time changes with ease. Quite often, I have to adjust to 10- or 12-hour time changes between Australia and New York after spending 17-18 hours on a plane, with twins! You have to be flexible to do this job.”

Reputation Speaks for Itself
Now fully self-employed, Rule prides herself on the fact that all of her clients come from personal recommendations. With clients who are very private and selective, that says a lot about her quality of care.
“It means a lot to me that someone would think so highly of my work that they would recommend me to care for the children of their family members and friends,” Rule said. “While I am employed by the families for a specific period of time, I always try to remember that I not only work for them but I work for my reputation, as well. It’s everything in private duty care.”

The Feeling Is Mutual
While her clients get high-quality care for their children, Rule sees herself as equally blessed by getting to meet so many amazing people. The feeling of gratitude is mutual between herself and her clients. Rule calls Adam and Jackie Sandler, “the most warm and loving people I’ve ever met or lived with” and Julia Roberts and Tina Fey, “the most inspiring women and mothers.
“The inspiration I get from my clients is really a gift,” Rule shared. “The best part is that I loved them and enjoyed their film work long before I ever met them.”

Sharing the Secret
You don’t have to be a celebrity to enjoy the secrets of child care to the stars. Rule has just celebrated the release of her first book, The Baby Schedule Ruler. In it, she shares the advice she gives to celebrity moms about keeping life routines intact after the baby arrives. It’s award-winning advice for new mothers.
“The baby can and should be a wonderful addition to your life. Everything doesn’t have to fall apart,” Rule insisted. “Life can expand and it’s all about creative parental imagination. It removes a lot of the mystery of having a baby and helps new parents discover the uplifting experience that having a baby should really be.”

Luke Cowles is Senior Regional Editor at ADVANCE.

How well does your baby sleep at night?