Ashley Conger
February 2020
Ashley
Conger
,
LPN
Family Practice Clinic
Phelps Health
Rolla
,
MO
United States
This is not a harrowing testimony of a life or death exchange. This is a simple recognition of an extraordinary woman who made a normal doctor's visit memorable.
On Monday I took my 10-year-old daughter to the walk-in clinic for her sore throat. I assumed they would do a flu or strep swab and my daughter, B, has a super sensitive gag reflex. Often this results in spraying the room and everything in it with projectile vomit. As many times as I caution medical staff of her "condition", inevitably someone downgrades my insistence on the issue, and they are proven wrong. This day however was very different.
From the time Ashley entered the room she spoke directly to B with questions she could answer. She was extremely patient with B's many questions. As Ashley prepped the swab, I explained again what happens with B, what they need to avoid or look out for. Ashley explained to B how gagging actually helps when being swabbed, and how quick she can be if B "makes the tonsils come out and say hello". Ashley stressed to B how gagging isn't anything to be embarrassed about and comforted B by telling her she was thrown up on by a grown man; "It happens, and if it does, it will be okay. We'll just clean it up." She positioned herself and B, gave her a disposable vomit bag, and advised her how to signal and what to do.
The explanation took longer than the swab! She was in and out, B gagged, her eyes watered, and she coughed. Ashley left the room with the swab and returned with a cold cup of water and a sucker for B. Clean up averted! Our dental appointments are usually pretty gross, requiring a shower and change of clothes if they don't get "Mr. Thirsty" positioned correctly. I was sure this day would be the same, but Ashley educated B, equipped her with how to handle it, and got the job done quickly and effectively. It was such a great experience. B left saying she wanted to help people like Ashley does when she grows up.
While it wasn't a life or death experience, Ashley demonstrated to my little girl what nursing can be in non-emergent circumstances.
On Monday I took my 10-year-old daughter to the walk-in clinic for her sore throat. I assumed they would do a flu or strep swab and my daughter, B, has a super sensitive gag reflex. Often this results in spraying the room and everything in it with projectile vomit. As many times as I caution medical staff of her "condition", inevitably someone downgrades my insistence on the issue, and they are proven wrong. This day however was very different.
From the time Ashley entered the room she spoke directly to B with questions she could answer. She was extremely patient with B's many questions. As Ashley prepped the swab, I explained again what happens with B, what they need to avoid or look out for. Ashley explained to B how gagging actually helps when being swabbed, and how quick she can be if B "makes the tonsils come out and say hello". Ashley stressed to B how gagging isn't anything to be embarrassed about and comforted B by telling her she was thrown up on by a grown man; "It happens, and if it does, it will be okay. We'll just clean it up." She positioned herself and B, gave her a disposable vomit bag, and advised her how to signal and what to do.
The explanation took longer than the swab! She was in and out, B gagged, her eyes watered, and she coughed. Ashley left the room with the swab and returned with a cold cup of water and a sucker for B. Clean up averted! Our dental appointments are usually pretty gross, requiring a shower and change of clothes if they don't get "Mr. Thirsty" positioned correctly. I was sure this day would be the same, but Ashley educated B, equipped her with how to handle it, and got the job done quickly and effectively. It was such a great experience. B left saying she wanted to help people like Ashley does when she grows up.
While it wasn't a life or death experience, Ashley demonstrated to my little girl what nursing can be in non-emergent circumstances.