Amanda Metcalf
January 2021
Amanda
Metcalf
,
ADN, RN
Med Surg 5
Medical City North Hills
North Richland Hills
,
TX
United States
Amanda gave the unicorn to the patient prior to surgery telling her this would remind her that she was in good hands, that she was safe, and not to be afraid.
This is a true story of how one builds a personal connection that will last a lifetime. A recent intern, who has been on her own since early October 2020, is the most recognized nurse on patient calls/rounds on her floor and lives the example of our Mission, Vision, and Values. During rounding on a new spine surgery patient, the patient told me a story about her special nurse- her “guardian angel nurse” who helped her not to be afraid of spine surgery.
The patient stated she had a fall at home and as days went on was told she needed to have spine surgery and her presurgical nurse was on another floor. The patient said this nurse sat, listened to her fear, and spoke with her about the spine surgery, answered her questions, and shared the story of her own spine surgery as a child and how it saved her life.
“She was so positive and helped calm my fear.” The nurse took care of this patient for several shifts. Seeing the patient’s anxiety before major surgery, she took it upon herself called her boyfriend, and had him go to the store and over the phone show her all the stuffed animals that were available since our gift shop was closed. She selected a large soft pink unicorn and had him purchase it and bring it to her at the hospital. She gave the unicorn to the patient prior to surgery telling her this would remind her that she was in good hands, that she was safe, and not to be afraid. The patient took the unicorn with her to surgery. She said it gave her great comfort that as soon as she opened her eyes the PACU nurse had placed her pink unicorn on her bed next to her and she remembered what the nurse had told her “not to be afraid, that she was safe”. She said she held on to her unicorn and it gave her such comfort.
In her room, the unicorn sat at her bedside each day during recovery and therapy. She asked me to take her picture so we could all remember what Amanda did that made such a difference to her. I asked her permission to write this story because we all felt the love and connection this sweet nurse made with her patient. I spoke with the nurse about what I had learned on rounds. She was unaware of what happened after the patient went to surgery. It brought tears to all of us. This nurse visited the patient every day she worked to check on her until she was discharged. The patient says she would not have done so well if not for her nurse- her guardian angel nurse. Amanda reminds us all that taking time to truly connect; to listen, comfort, and explain makes all the difference to a patient at their most vulnerable time of need. We need more “guardian angel nurses”.
The patient stated she had a fall at home and as days went on was told she needed to have spine surgery and her presurgical nurse was on another floor. The patient said this nurse sat, listened to her fear, and spoke with her about the spine surgery, answered her questions, and shared the story of her own spine surgery as a child and how it saved her life.
“She was so positive and helped calm my fear.” The nurse took care of this patient for several shifts. Seeing the patient’s anxiety before major surgery, she took it upon herself called her boyfriend, and had him go to the store and over the phone show her all the stuffed animals that were available since our gift shop was closed. She selected a large soft pink unicorn and had him purchase it and bring it to her at the hospital. She gave the unicorn to the patient prior to surgery telling her this would remind her that she was in good hands, that she was safe, and not to be afraid. The patient took the unicorn with her to surgery. She said it gave her great comfort that as soon as she opened her eyes the PACU nurse had placed her pink unicorn on her bed next to her and she remembered what the nurse had told her “not to be afraid, that she was safe”. She said she held on to her unicorn and it gave her such comfort.
In her room, the unicorn sat at her bedside each day during recovery and therapy. She asked me to take her picture so we could all remember what Amanda did that made such a difference to her. I asked her permission to write this story because we all felt the love and connection this sweet nurse made with her patient. I spoke with the nurse about what I had learned on rounds. She was unaware of what happened after the patient went to surgery. It brought tears to all of us. This nurse visited the patient every day she worked to check on her until she was discharged. The patient says she would not have done so well if not for her nurse- her guardian angel nurse. Amanda reminds us all that taking time to truly connect; to listen, comfort, and explain makes all the difference to a patient at their most vulnerable time of need. We need more “guardian angel nurses”.