The care I received from Zo, my nurse on my visit to St. Mary's ER was exceptional. I felt that my care and well-being, and my wife's well-being too, were a priority for him. By that, I mean that he went out of his way to see that both my physical and our mental/emotional needs were met. He listened carefully to how I (and my wife too) described my symptoms. He did not show any tendency to rush us or to be impatient. He took extra time to talk with us about how various medications and diagnostic procedures work and why the doctor was choosing them. He was really careful to set my expectations for the procedures so I wasn't anxious. He told us what he was administering in the IV without us having to ask. Near the end of my stay, when it seemed I would be discharged soon, I mentioned how hungry I was. I was so grateful when Zo ordered a tray for me and monitored my ability to keep it down.
The next day we returned to the ER just to ask for advice before traveling home. We were concerned about me having a stroke on the way and were wondering if medical transport was a possibility. Zo happened to be working. He came out and took the time to listen to our concerns. He even investigated options for us (though he most likely knew they were not going to be viable). In the end, he helped us to feel comfortable with driving home on our own and finding a hospital along the way if we needed. This was extra effort on his part and we really appreciated it.
What was so special with Zo was his great empathy and going the extra mile for us. We both felt and knew that he cared about us as people. He anticipated and told us what we needed to hear before we asked. He spoke with the greatest respect, listened so intently, and showed understanding for what we were experiencing. We couldn't be more grateful.