Amy Cherry
May 2021
Amy
Cherry
,
RN
Medical Surgical
Salem Veterans Affairs Medical Center
Salem
,
VA
United States
Amy listened without judgment, encouraged me, engaged me.
I went to the VA to be detoxed and enter the substance abuse program. Because of the virus, all face-to-face contact was discontinued, i.e., aftercare, AA, NA, church, and isolation was imposed. The only thing not closed was ABC. I was so disappointed in myself and embarrassed after having had multiple months of sobriety. I was so full of shame.
Amy was my first nurse, and I told her my story. I’m sure I cried, I’m near tears now. Her listening skills were just as important as her nursing skills. Amy listened without judgment, encouraged me, engaged me, ensured I was cared for medically and cared for me emotionally. She got me up and walking around which inspired me to walk several times a day. I’m sure she knew how important that physical activity is in recovery.
We didn’t just talk about recovery, we talked about life things, mine and hers. If she was on rotation, she made sure she was my nurse. If not for Amy, I might have left the hospital after detox and not entered the program. God Bless, Amy, she was also VERY appreciative of my years of service!
Amy was my first nurse, and I told her my story. I’m sure I cried, I’m near tears now. Her listening skills were just as important as her nursing skills. Amy listened without judgment, encouraged me, engaged me, ensured I was cared for medically and cared for me emotionally. She got me up and walking around which inspired me to walk several times a day. I’m sure she knew how important that physical activity is in recovery.
We didn’t just talk about recovery, we talked about life things, mine and hers. If she was on rotation, she made sure she was my nurse. If not for Amy, I might have left the hospital after detox and not entered the program. God Bless, Amy, she was also VERY appreciative of my years of service!