Andie Welch
August 2021
Andie
Welch
,
BSN, RN
7E - Surgical
ChristianaCare
Newark
,
DE
United States
Andie came back into the room and told me to call my son and tell my boyfriend to bring him to a specific door so she could take me down for a short visit.
I was a patient in the hospital. Andie was my nurse the afternoon after my surgery. I can't express how much of an impact she had on my life as she went beyond her duties as a nurse. Besides her utmost respect and uplifting attitude, her bedside manners will always be remembered. I did not know children were not allowed in the hospital, as this was never explained to me. As a single mom with no family, it is only my son and I. We have only been in Delaware for 5 years so not having many people to depend on is hard. As I do have a boyfriend that was caring for my son, it still isn't the same as having "mom".
As we all know, anything could happen in any surgery, and my son was well aware of this. He was very scared that something could happen to mom as she went through this operation. After the surgery, my boyfriend picked up my son from school hurriedly and got him dressed for soccer pictures, and brought him to the hospital to see his mom and just for his eyes to know mom was ok and I was awake. Unfortunately, that was more tragic as he was not allowed in to see me. As tears ran down his face and flowers dropped to his side, he was more scared than ever because he knows I always say I'm ok, but was I really in his eyes?
Andie happened to be in the room as our phone conversation continued and I was asking him to please stop crying and that mommy was really ok. I had to tell him I needed to go because my nurse needed to do her job, though I know he didn't want to hang up. Andie asked me if everything was ok, and I know she knew something wasn't as I played it off but explained to her my son only has me in the world. This is where she went beyond her duties as a nurse. Andie came back into the room and told me to call my son and tell my boyfriend to bring him to a specific door so she could take me down for a short visit. I emphasized I didn't want her to get in trouble, and she told me it could only be for 5 minutes but is better for us than nothing.
When Andie brought me down and my son was standing outside that door, his eyes filled up and he couldn't run fast enough to me. As he wrapped his arms around my neck totally forgetting I had surgery, he then squeezed me around my waist and his head on my shoulders crying; it was then I knew Andie had no idea what she had done. We are strangers to her, but she has left an impact on both of our lives just knowing that she went beyond her call of duty to make sure a family was happy. I believe Andie should be recognized for not only her commitment to excellence in her nursing duties, but also to make sure her compassion, optimism, and kindness do not go unnoticed. I am sure Andie goes above and beyond to make sure all her patients are comfortable. Thank you from the bottom of our hearts!
As we all know, anything could happen in any surgery, and my son was well aware of this. He was very scared that something could happen to mom as she went through this operation. After the surgery, my boyfriend picked up my son from school hurriedly and got him dressed for soccer pictures, and brought him to the hospital to see his mom and just for his eyes to know mom was ok and I was awake. Unfortunately, that was more tragic as he was not allowed in to see me. As tears ran down his face and flowers dropped to his side, he was more scared than ever because he knows I always say I'm ok, but was I really in his eyes?
Andie happened to be in the room as our phone conversation continued and I was asking him to please stop crying and that mommy was really ok. I had to tell him I needed to go because my nurse needed to do her job, though I know he didn't want to hang up. Andie asked me if everything was ok, and I know she knew something wasn't as I played it off but explained to her my son only has me in the world. This is where she went beyond her duties as a nurse. Andie came back into the room and told me to call my son and tell my boyfriend to bring him to a specific door so she could take me down for a short visit. I emphasized I didn't want her to get in trouble, and she told me it could only be for 5 minutes but is better for us than nothing.
When Andie brought me down and my son was standing outside that door, his eyes filled up and he couldn't run fast enough to me. As he wrapped his arms around my neck totally forgetting I had surgery, he then squeezed me around my waist and his head on my shoulders crying; it was then I knew Andie had no idea what she had done. We are strangers to her, but she has left an impact on both of our lives just knowing that she went beyond her call of duty to make sure a family was happy. I believe Andie should be recognized for not only her commitment to excellence in her nursing duties, but also to make sure her compassion, optimism, and kindness do not go unnoticed. I am sure Andie goes above and beyond to make sure all her patients are comfortable. Thank you from the bottom of our hearts!