Hadley Vanderspurt
November 2020
Hadley
Vanderspurt
,
RN
Neuro Science
Piedmont Columbus Midtown Campus
He would be mad and frustrated, and Hadley would just calmly talk to him and you could quickly see his demeanor change.
My father had emergency brain surgery on Father's Day. He spent almost a week in ICU and because of COVID restrictions at the time, I was the only essential visitor allowed to see him. I was responsible for updating my mother and siblings and other family members on his condition. It was overwhelming to me and I was terrified of him coming out of ICU and not being watched so closely.
Even in restraints, he managed to continually pull out his NG tube. He thrashed and yelled and wanted nothing more than to get out of that bed. It was frightening to watch. Hadley was one of his very first night shift nurses he had on the fifth floor. She was so nice and helpful. She reassured me that she would take care of my dad and check on him often even though I knew she had 5 other patients that needed her care as well. She put notes in for all of the questions I wanted to ask the doctors just in case I couldn't make in early enough in the morning. She took the time to answer my phone calls in the middle of the night when I just wanted reassurance that he was ok.
My dad was very combative when his brain was recovering which was so contrary to his usual personality. Hadley had so much grace and patience with my dad and with my million questions for her. He would be mad and frustrated, and she would just calmly talk to him and you could quickly see his demeanor change. She never once seemed aggravated with me when I probably asked the same questions of her over and over.
At this point in his recovery, I was exhausted, but when I knew Hadley was on the floor, I felt completely comfortable to leave him there, knowing that she would keep a good eye on him. I feel that she went above and beyond normal nursing duties by not just taking care of my dad's medical needs, but also his emotional needs. She also took care of me and listened to my stories about who my dad was before his surgery. She did not rush me or seem frustrated when I questioned her relentlessly about everything that was going on with him. She was a shining light in a very, very dark time for our family and I am forever grateful.
Even in restraints, he managed to continually pull out his NG tube. He thrashed and yelled and wanted nothing more than to get out of that bed. It was frightening to watch. Hadley was one of his very first night shift nurses he had on the fifth floor. She was so nice and helpful. She reassured me that she would take care of my dad and check on him often even though I knew she had 5 other patients that needed her care as well. She put notes in for all of the questions I wanted to ask the doctors just in case I couldn't make in early enough in the morning. She took the time to answer my phone calls in the middle of the night when I just wanted reassurance that he was ok.
My dad was very combative when his brain was recovering which was so contrary to his usual personality. Hadley had so much grace and patience with my dad and with my million questions for her. He would be mad and frustrated, and she would just calmly talk to him and you could quickly see his demeanor change. She never once seemed aggravated with me when I probably asked the same questions of her over and over.
At this point in his recovery, I was exhausted, but when I knew Hadley was on the floor, I felt completely comfortable to leave him there, knowing that she would keep a good eye on him. I feel that she went above and beyond normal nursing duties by not just taking care of my dad's medical needs, but also his emotional needs. She also took care of me and listened to my stories about who my dad was before his surgery. She did not rush me or seem frustrated when I questioned her relentlessly about everything that was going on with him. She was a shining light in a very, very dark time for our family and I am forever grateful.