Being in the hospital, for me, has been a very frightening experience in the past. I am 87 years old and have been blessed to be in good health with only a few serious issues. When it was decided that I needed emergent care and Baptist Memorial was where the Cardiac Unit was, I was very anxious. At 44 years old, I lost my husband at this hospital followed by my mother several years later. As with all stays, I had some very good nurses. And there is another category, the really exceptional nurses. I was blessed with one nurse for several days. She is a perfect blend of strength and gentleness and she knows what is needed and when. Her nursing knowledge is clear very early on. She is well versed in the medication, the side effects; it is clear she has read the chart thoroughly and therefore, during the assessment, asks relevant questions. All of the above brings such a sense of someone being in control that can be trusted since a person releases all control after being admitted.

This nurse saw the best of my days and the worst of my days. She saw me take two steps forward and what felt like a leap back. She watched as my daughters and I cried over just the sheer exhaustion of the process and the downturn, even temporary. She quietly offered her strength and understanding to the emotional needs of all of my family members. Probably more important to some is the fact that she intervened behind the scenes when she received discharge orders for me. From her assessment, I was not stable or strong enough to go home. She notified the appropriate team and voiced her concerns. As things played out, I would have returned to the hospital had I gone home.

She was always in tune and accurate in her assessment. I am grateful for the loving care both physically and emotionally, but also for the gift of rewriting the negative attachment I have about going to a hospital for so many years. It is now, also, a place that brings a happy thought of being supported and well cared for. That's quite a gift.