April 2022
Amber
Nichols
,
RN
Emergency Dept.
Scenic Mountain Medical Center
Big Spring
,
TX
United States
My husband texted, "She is making us feel right at home even though we are in the hallway. Her attitude and care made us forget where we were."
This past January 2022, my son, N, was hurt at school playing sports. His kneecap popped out of place and was all the way on the right side of his leg. The correct diagnosis of the injury was Right Patellar Dislocation. I work about 35 minutes away and deal with chidden at the end of the day so I could not just leave when I got the call. My husband got my son and took him to the SMMC ER. On this day, they were very busy- along with COVID and all the restrictions and so forth- the ER was full. There was no room for him, so he was on a stretcher in the hall area by the nursing station.
Amber Nichols jumped into action. First, she totally focused on N and put him and my very panicked husband at ease. My husband was texting me the whole time. He told me- wow our nurse is great. She is making us feel right at home even though we are in the hallway. He said her attitude and care made you forget where you were at. N was in a lot of pain and to say the least scared to death due to his kneecap being on the side of his leg. Amber positioned him helping take the pressure off. She kept checking on him- as she was going from room to room- she got him a warm blanket since he was shaking so hard and just talked him through the pain, helping him slow his breathing down and all. My husband said when the x-ray team came to take the picture, N was crying quietly because it was hurting him as they moved it around, she saw what was happening and came over and very sweetly helped them position the knee safely and quickly. My husband said she was teaching the girl what to do without her ever knowing what was happening so the x-ray tech never felt embarrassed or uneducated. The tech told N after she finished, you are very lucky to have her as your nurse- she knows the neatest tricks and makes our job so easy and the patients feel all better.
When I got there, due to COVID restrictions and a very hectic ER, I couldn't go back there, however, I did let my husband know I was there- in a moment the nurse, Amber, came out to the waiting room and gave me a "mom's update" that's what she called it. She just didn't want me to worry. When they got a room and were able to move N- she came and got me and let me go back there with him and my husband. During the time in the room- she was back and forth with the Doctor, who was also amazing). The doctor order him some very strong pain medicine and as Amber gave it to him she talked him through the sensations the meds might give him, when they put his knee back in place Amber was right there talking to N, who never knew they did it because he was focused on her. After that part was done, we were waiting for the follow-up x-ray to be done, the ER called a "code blue". There was a lot of activity going on, but never once did she act like we were not important or forgotten. She checked on us numerous times before we left to go home.
It was an overall great experience in the SMMC ER that day, and our family tributes that to the staff, our doctor, and nurse Amber Nichols who truly went the extra mile for us and all the other patients she was also taking care of on that very busy day.
Amber Nichols jumped into action. First, she totally focused on N and put him and my very panicked husband at ease. My husband was texting me the whole time. He told me- wow our nurse is great. She is making us feel right at home even though we are in the hallway. He said her attitude and care made you forget where you were at. N was in a lot of pain and to say the least scared to death due to his kneecap being on the side of his leg. Amber positioned him helping take the pressure off. She kept checking on him- as she was going from room to room- she got him a warm blanket since he was shaking so hard and just talked him through the pain, helping him slow his breathing down and all. My husband said when the x-ray team came to take the picture, N was crying quietly because it was hurting him as they moved it around, she saw what was happening and came over and very sweetly helped them position the knee safely and quickly. My husband said she was teaching the girl what to do without her ever knowing what was happening so the x-ray tech never felt embarrassed or uneducated. The tech told N after she finished, you are very lucky to have her as your nurse- she knows the neatest tricks and makes our job so easy and the patients feel all better.
When I got there, due to COVID restrictions and a very hectic ER, I couldn't go back there, however, I did let my husband know I was there- in a moment the nurse, Amber, came out to the waiting room and gave me a "mom's update" that's what she called it. She just didn't want me to worry. When they got a room and were able to move N- she came and got me and let me go back there with him and my husband. During the time in the room- she was back and forth with the Doctor, who was also amazing). The doctor order him some very strong pain medicine and as Amber gave it to him she talked him through the sensations the meds might give him, when they put his knee back in place Amber was right there talking to N, who never knew they did it because he was focused on her. After that part was done, we were waiting for the follow-up x-ray to be done, the ER called a "code blue". There was a lot of activity going on, but never once did she act like we were not important or forgotten. She checked on us numerous times before we left to go home.
It was an overall great experience in the SMMC ER that day, and our family tributes that to the staff, our doctor, and nurse Amber Nichols who truly went the extra mile for us and all the other patients she was also taking care of on that very busy day.