My husband had a pacemaker implanted at Amita. The atrial lead perforated his heart wall during the procedure, creating pericardial effusion. He was overnight due to the complication. He went home the following day, only to return through the ER at 3 a.m. the following morning. He was diagnosed with pericarditis from the perforation. He spent the next 9 days on the floor – 5th Telemetry. It is an amazing staff of very caring professionals on 5th Tele. 

Dana stood out as exceptional in our minds due to her capacity to listen and demonstrate compassion. Dana is a take-charge RN. Her nursing experience and acumen are very obvious from observing and talking with her. In the course of my husband’s hospitalization, he got kidney failure (resolved) from the pericarditis treatment regimen; pleural effusion from the DUs to treat the kidney failure, a pneumothorax (had to go to cardiac suite OR to replace faulty lead). That time, his left lung was nicked so he had a chest tube placed for 24 hours.

What made Dana truly stand out in our minds – on one particularly scary and depressing day, when we thought my husband was going home but they found the pneumothorax, Dana came in to check on him and talked with us. She said, “I am so sorry all this is happening to you.” Then she spent time with us, letting us talk and express anger, frustration, anxiety, and fear. She was a very calming presence and supportive. She was the first person to say, “I’m sorry this is happening to you.” That’s it. That simple statement and her willingness to stay with us while we processed it all and grieved about what all was going on. It made such a powerful impact on both of us and allowed us to take a deep, fresh breath and start again. Quite healing actions on her part, so kudos to Dana!

I have told our story so often to so many people and I always include Dana in the narrative as an example of how healing a nurse's simple actions and words can be to those vulnerable patients and families. Thank you for allowing us to send this.