COVID-19 hit our family pretty hard. When my sister ended up in RCU I was afraid but Andrew Williamson, RN made sure my sister was in good hands. He not only encouraged her, but he also educated her on her condition and ensured she knew she was in good hands. Andrew made it a point to make sure my sister was comfortable and showed empathy to her when she needed it most.
Andrew's compassion and respect towards my sister helped her recover and come home. He went out of his way to make sure she was going to be okay, even after his shifts were over, he made sure the nurses who would take over care would provide my sister the same care. My family and I truly appreciate and commend Andrew for his kindness and care he provided to our sister. Thank you, Andrew!
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After being sick for 2 weeks and testing positive for COVID-19, I was admitted to the new Respiratory Care Unit (RCU). I saw many eyes there were no faces due to the extensive personal protection of double gowns, double gloves, and double masks. The overwhelming feelings of exhaustion, the uncertainty of one's own survival, and a sense of very little hope of recovery due to the newness of the Coronavirus.
The RCU had many Physicians, CNA's, Nurses, and Respiratory staff coming in and out of the patient rooms, along with Environmental Services cleaning daily. The daily workings for any care unit. The Coronavirus at the time, as we all understood it, was to be very contagious and as a patient, I assumed everyone that came into my isolation room would be standoffish.
I felt it was the nurses who did most of the patient to patient contact and communication. I was being educated on how the virus worked in the body, being a Certified Medical Assistant I found it very informative. It gave me a better understanding of how I could try to help myself.
The first few days in RCU was the hardest, the exhaustion was disappointing. Small tasks were difficult to do, due to the lack of oxygen to my lungs. While sitting there, I noticed some patients walking around in the unit. I thought to myself, that is where I want to be if only my body would let me.
A nurse named Andrew came into my room one morning, gave me my medication asked how I was doing. The nurse stood watching TV with me for a bit and started talking to me as if I didn't have a contagious virus. I recall him saying, "If I wasn't working, I would sit here and watch this with you", seeing that I was not eating very much food, the nurse encouraged me to eat to be able to gain my strength so I can go out to walk the unit like the other patients.
It was like he knew my silent goal and gave me a way to be able to do it, he also suggested I use my inhaler every 4 hours even if I didn't need it. I have had asthma for more than 10 years and know when I am short of breath, surprisingly it did help by opening my lungs even more. In the afternoon, after successfully eating all my lunch (who knew eating took so much energy), Andrew came in with a portable oxygen tank and said it was time to try walking farther than the restroom today. I was afraid and anxious as to how I would do. Let me tell you, I didn't do very well, I barely made it around the corner. I was disappointed. Andrew encouraged me to drink plenty of water, to eat all of my meals, and to keep doing the breathing exercises adding that tomorrow will be farther.
The next day, I did just that while looking forward to my walk and watch TV with someone. This time I walked halfway around the unit. Andrew kept encouraging and educating me the entire way how important it was to get the oxygen to my lungs, being reminded that it could be done, and patients have done it and gone home. I then told myself I was going to make it around the unit tomorrow.
I made it around the unit, I was happy and the RCU staff was very supportive also encouraging patients to keep pushing forward, saying, "You can do it, one more time around". Then next few days was good progress, after walking the unit 5 times in one session, I knew I was ready to go home. Andrew knew it also, saying to me, "You did it. If I do not see you again, I hope you continue to get better". I told him I worked in the Administrative building and ask that he visit me if I don't see him.
When I returned to work, I was hoping to see him because he made me feel human by not being afraid of the contagious Coronavirus, I had battled but helped me. Upon my return, it did take me a while to put down my guard. I did not know Andrew's last name I wanted to send a thank you email and give him a few scrub caps I had made, to show him that I was recovered and now have the energy to continue to do what I love.
I eventually found Nurse Andrew and sent him an email, he showed so much empathy and encouraged me to keep pushing to be well enough to go home to my family. What I took with me when I was discharged was the education/information of Coronavirus to share and the love of treating everyone with human kindness.
Therefore, I nominate Nurse Andrew Williamson for the DAISY Award because he is the best example of what a person who in is the healthcare field came to love to do, and that is to care and have compassion for everyone.