Auburnleigh Debruler
February 2026
Auburnleigh
Debruler
,
ADN, RN
9 CCP
UC Health – University of Cincinnati Medical Center
Cincinnati
,
OH
United States
Her compassionate care and empathy for my wife's condition and my acute concern were very much evident in all of my encounters with Auburnleigh.
I have been a rehabilitation physician here at the University of Cincinnati for almost 45 years, as well as director and vice president of medical affairs at Drake Center. I have also nominated several nurses for the DAISY award. In other words, I can readily recognize excellent, compassionate nursing care in an individual who goes the extra mile.
Unfortunately, my wife, C, was recently diagnosed with a G.I. adenocarcinoma, which has required several procedures and two Hospital admissions at University Hospital over the last 2 1/2 months. On both occasions, we were admitted to 9 CCP. 9 CCP is unique as there are several surgical services, therefore several different management philosophies, and it appears that these seem to be the sickest patients in the hospital on a regular floor.
During her first admission, we were followed by Surg Onc/Gyn Onc/MedOnc. At one point, my wife had five different IV lines running. During our most recent admission, my wife required placement of a colonic mesh stent by G.I. She unfortunately had significant insensible water loss over Saturday night, and on Sunday morning, she was hypotensive/tachycardic and with significant decreased urine output. The next thing I knew, there were six individuals in her room, ready to take her to the SICU for closer monitoring.
For many various reasons, I felt compelled to advocate for her to stay on the 9CCP floor. The surgical team eventually agreed to this decision, but what that required was that her nurse, Auburnleigh, for the most part had to take on the role of an SICU Nurse. She was constantly in our room with me, monitoring her blood pressure/heart rate/IV fluid & body fluid output. C rallied and eventually was able to be discharged two days later. During the two days that Auburnleigh was providing care for my wife, I noticed several things.
One, not only did she have excellent clinical acumen and problem-solving as witnessed during that very critical Sunday, but she was also very reassuring to me as well. I know it must be difficult to have a patient's family member who is a physician, and perhaps was looking in with very critical eyes. Auburnleigh recognized my desire to be knowledgeable about everything that was going on. The Transfer team left a heart monitor with us. Auburnleigh showed me how to use the device as I recorded what C's heart rate did when she was lying in bed or when she got up to go to the bedside commode.
Two, throughout those two days, I noted that Auburnleigh was mentoring another nurse. I've also been a teacher for many years and recognize the expertise and patience with which she was empowering this nurse to acquire the skills necessary to be on such a critical floor as 9CCP.
Three, I was very impressed with Auburnleigh's professionalism, clinical competence, and maturity. I was surprised when she indicated that she had only been an RN for a little over a year. She had not been on a typical high school/college/nursing degree track and had numerous previous jobs, including working overseas for nonprofit organizations.
Her compassionate care and empathy for my wife's condition and my acute concern were very much evident in all of my encounters with Auburnleigh. I have mentioned to many of C's physicians that if we do require another hospitalization, I would hope it is on 9CCP, as many of the nurses that we encountered during our five various weeks at University Hospital exemplified these similar skills and attributes.
Unfortunately, my wife, C, was recently diagnosed with a G.I. adenocarcinoma, which has required several procedures and two Hospital admissions at University Hospital over the last 2 1/2 months. On both occasions, we were admitted to 9 CCP. 9 CCP is unique as there are several surgical services, therefore several different management philosophies, and it appears that these seem to be the sickest patients in the hospital on a regular floor.
During her first admission, we were followed by Surg Onc/Gyn Onc/MedOnc. At one point, my wife had five different IV lines running. During our most recent admission, my wife required placement of a colonic mesh stent by G.I. She unfortunately had significant insensible water loss over Saturday night, and on Sunday morning, she was hypotensive/tachycardic and with significant decreased urine output. The next thing I knew, there were six individuals in her room, ready to take her to the SICU for closer monitoring.
For many various reasons, I felt compelled to advocate for her to stay on the 9CCP floor. The surgical team eventually agreed to this decision, but what that required was that her nurse, Auburnleigh, for the most part had to take on the role of an SICU Nurse. She was constantly in our room with me, monitoring her blood pressure/heart rate/IV fluid & body fluid output. C rallied and eventually was able to be discharged two days later. During the two days that Auburnleigh was providing care for my wife, I noticed several things.
One, not only did she have excellent clinical acumen and problem-solving as witnessed during that very critical Sunday, but she was also very reassuring to me as well. I know it must be difficult to have a patient's family member who is a physician, and perhaps was looking in with very critical eyes. Auburnleigh recognized my desire to be knowledgeable about everything that was going on. The Transfer team left a heart monitor with us. Auburnleigh showed me how to use the device as I recorded what C's heart rate did when she was lying in bed or when she got up to go to the bedside commode.
Two, throughout those two days, I noted that Auburnleigh was mentoring another nurse. I've also been a teacher for many years and recognize the expertise and patience with which she was empowering this nurse to acquire the skills necessary to be on such a critical floor as 9CCP.
Three, I was very impressed with Auburnleigh's professionalism, clinical competence, and maturity. I was surprised when she indicated that she had only been an RN for a little over a year. She had not been on a typical high school/college/nursing degree track and had numerous previous jobs, including working overseas for nonprofit organizations.
Her compassionate care and empathy for my wife's condition and my acute concern were very much evident in all of my encounters with Auburnleigh. I have mentioned to many of C's physicians that if we do require another hospitalization, I would hope it is on 9CCP, as many of the nurses that we encountered during our five various weeks at University Hospital exemplified these similar skills and attributes.