Joe was my nurse while I was recovering from kidney surgery. I don't have a lot of experience with hospitals, so it was a little intimidating. I wasn't sure when I should ask for help, what to say to the nurses, etc, without feeling like I was being a bother. Joe came into my room my first night and asked me to rate my pain. My "I don't want to be a bother" response was typical. I told him, "I have some discomfort, but it was tolerable, I'm ok."

Joe told me, "Listen, this is not the time to be stoic. If you're hurting let’s get you comfortable." Suddenly it was ok to be vulnerable and I felt safe saying I was hurting without feeling like I was bothering someone while they were working. Every conversation after that included the statement, "I'm not going to be stoic..." which usually brought on a smile or giggle. That simple statement made it much less intimidating and easier to communicate. I appreciated the level of care and concern he showed me while I was at Methodist. His friendly demeanor and conversation were a definite bright spot during my stay!