I am a floor nurse who suffers from hyperemesis gravidarum. I'm in my 9th week of pregnancy with my second child. Last Sunday, I unexpectedly became very sick when I got to work. I vomited 8 times in a two-hour time span. By the 7th time, I was so weak and dizzy that I couldn't stand. I was reaching out to the supervisor and staff who weren't here for help. Every staff member who was working was too busy with the patients to even recognize how sick I was. It was such a busy morning.
K told me not to try to get up and that she would find help for someone to take over my team of patients so that I could go to the ED. After I read that text, I closed my eyes and slouched over on the couch in our lounge.
When I opened my eyes, Jason was standing there and said, "I'm here." I stumbled up to give him a report. After recognizing the condition I was in, he told me to sit down and called the ED coordinator to see what room that he could take me to down there for care. He then wheeled me downstairs and was so nice and compassionate to me. I felt awful for having to leave my floor and make him leave his regular duties. He reassured me and made me laugh on the ride downstairs. He assured me that I was in good hands and came back to 3A and took over my team for the remainder of the day.
As nurses, we are used to caring for people and placing our needs on the back burner sometimes. But in instances like these, when we unexpectedly become the patient, it makes me so proud to be a nurse. And I pray that I can make a difference in my patients' lives as he did in mine that day. Thank you again, Jason.