Eric Strauss
July 2018
Eric
Strauss
,
BSN, RN
Cardiac Float Pool
Lehigh Valley Hospital
Allentown
,
PA
United States

 

 

 

Eric was my husband's primary caregiver in the Cardiac ICU in his most critical 48 hours. From the time we met him, Eric displayed exemplary competence and professionalism. Above and beyond this was the compassion, kindness, and patience he showed in caring for my husband, as well as with us, his family. Eric took the time to answer and explain questions in-depth, sometimes explaining things multiple times. Later in the week, when my husband wasn't his patient, he took the time to do a quick check-in to see how he was doing. This experience was the first time, with any loved one, I've had in dealing with a situation where I did not have any idea what the outcome would be. It was truly an hour by hour assessment of whether my husband would live or die.
When a family is in crisis, I cannot tell you how important it is that compassion and kindness reign. I will always be grateful to each of my husband's caregivers during this past week. The above and beyond care Eric displayed to my husband and my family this week will always be deeply appreciated. Eric set the tone for my husband's care in a time when a nightmare had started for my family. That tone was one of humble confidence and competence and quiet peace in the midst of our chaos. Thank you will never be enough!
***
My father in law recently had a heart attack. His life was very much on the line and my wife and mother in law were in tears often with the prospect of losing their father and husband. The sounds were scary, and the unknown was scary. Eric went above and beyond in explaining what the sounds were and what the different monitors meant. He was unbelievably helpful in explaining that different sounds were not life-threatening or even bad. He would spend time with us and his presence increased our trust in him in the hardest days of our lives. I cannot speak highly enough about Eric.