May 2014
Jason
Dehlin
,
RN, BSN
Supplemental Staffing
VCU Health System
Richmond
,
VA
United States
... I was a patient of yours [Jason] this past Monday evening for a Lexiscan Stress Test. I am a nurse over in the Bone Marrow Transplant Clinic and do not even indicate to people that I am a nurse or a VCU Employee because I do not want people to assume that I know things that I don't. I came by to visit with you in person today as it was my first day back to work but you were not here. I wanted to thank you of the care that I received in your department. Everyone was nice but you stood out and I wanted to bring that to your attention.
Patients come to us from all walks of life and you never know what they have been through when they walk in to your care. I have a newly diagnosed left bundle branch block, which was found after having chest tightness, shortness of breath and near syncope. My thoughts related to that test were of apprehension and fear that those same symptoms or worse would happen. As we know, what you see on the outside of a patient is not always indicative of how they are feeling on the inside. My heart rate was in the 80s until the team entered the room and as mentioned by the NP, my heart rate went up into the 100s on its own.
You didn't say much when you came into the room but the fact that you halted beginning the procedure to get my IV straight and stood there and held it to ensure that it didn't leak while you were coaching me to breathe through the treatment was in itself comforting because you were focused on me and my best interest.
The NP and MD are used to these procedures and were having a separate conversation not related to me. Although the medication had not worn completely off the NP and MD left after asking if I felt alright. You kept evaluating me by looking at me and asking if I felt alright. You immediately picked up on the change in my face that let you know something had changed and you acted. After the antidote was given, you continued to stay with me until my symptom was resolved. You have no idea how just having someone physically present that is attentive during a procedure that invokes fear can make a world of different. Thank you.
Patients come to us from all walks of life and you never know what they have been through when they walk in to your care. I have a newly diagnosed left bundle branch block, which was found after having chest tightness, shortness of breath and near syncope. My thoughts related to that test were of apprehension and fear that those same symptoms or worse would happen. As we know, what you see on the outside of a patient is not always indicative of how they are feeling on the inside. My heart rate was in the 80s until the team entered the room and as mentioned by the NP, my heart rate went up into the 100s on its own.
You didn't say much when you came into the room but the fact that you halted beginning the procedure to get my IV straight and stood there and held it to ensure that it didn't leak while you were coaching me to breathe through the treatment was in itself comforting because you were focused on me and my best interest.
The NP and MD are used to these procedures and were having a separate conversation not related to me. Although the medication had not worn completely off the NP and MD left after asking if I felt alright. You kept evaluating me by looking at me and asking if I felt alright. You immediately picked up on the change in my face that let you know something had changed and you acted. After the antidote was given, you continued to stay with me until my symptom was resolved. You have no idea how just having someone physically present that is attentive during a procedure that invokes fear can make a world of different. Thank you.