Mary Patton
March 2022
Mary
Patton
,
RN, BSN, CCRN
Intensive Care Unit
Houston Methodist The Woodlands Hospital
The Woodlands
,
TX
United States
My favorite aspect of her care was that she made everyone that she interacted with feel seen and heard.
About a week ago, my family member was admitted to Houston Methodist The Woodlands ICU, following a mild heart attack. In addition to receiving dialysis for the first time due to my loved one’s worsening kidney function, it was determined that he had several blockages in his heart that warranted open-heart surgery.
As I was driving to the hospital from Austin, my mind was racing at the thought of who was “up for the challenge” of caring for my loved one while I was not able to be there in person. When I met Mary for the first time, her genuineness and drive towards total patient and family-centered care astonished me! She stayed long after her shift ended on the first day he was admitted, to update my family and me on the events that led to my loved one’s hospitalization and his plan of care. As we sat in the consultation room, I felt the wall we often put up as healthcare providers fade away as she called us her family, gave us hugs, and shared words of encouragement. I know that her words also had a huge impact on my daddy. When she spoke to my father, it garnered his full trust that every intervention she performed was in his best interest. She was always very honest, realistic, yet optimistic when discussing any upcoming procedures with my father. Again, emphasizing the power of her words, she was able to speak for my father when he was too weak to do so himself. She is a textbook example and more of what a patient advocate looks like and constantly ensured that my father’s pain and needs were kept to a minimum.
Not only was she there for my father during this extremely mentally, emotionally, and physically charged journey, but she also went above and beyond to comfort my mother, who I knew was suffering silently watching my father go through the toughest obstacle in his life. My favorite aspect of her care was that she made everyone that she interacted with feel seen and heard. She listened to my father’s countless racing stories and history lessons, never missing the chance to respond in awe to remind her patient that he was so much more than just a sick man in a hospital bed.
As a new RN myself, it was amazing to watch her provide the utmost compassionate care to my daddy. Overall, her practice encompasses integrity, compassion, accountability, responsibility, and excellence, with an unwavering commitment to improving the health outcomes for her patients. Thank you for all your hugs, kind words, and lastly for being a great example of an excellent nurse!
As I was driving to the hospital from Austin, my mind was racing at the thought of who was “up for the challenge” of caring for my loved one while I was not able to be there in person. When I met Mary for the first time, her genuineness and drive towards total patient and family-centered care astonished me! She stayed long after her shift ended on the first day he was admitted, to update my family and me on the events that led to my loved one’s hospitalization and his plan of care. As we sat in the consultation room, I felt the wall we often put up as healthcare providers fade away as she called us her family, gave us hugs, and shared words of encouragement. I know that her words also had a huge impact on my daddy. When she spoke to my father, it garnered his full trust that every intervention she performed was in his best interest. She was always very honest, realistic, yet optimistic when discussing any upcoming procedures with my father. Again, emphasizing the power of her words, she was able to speak for my father when he was too weak to do so himself. She is a textbook example and more of what a patient advocate looks like and constantly ensured that my father’s pain and needs were kept to a minimum.
Not only was she there for my father during this extremely mentally, emotionally, and physically charged journey, but she also went above and beyond to comfort my mother, who I knew was suffering silently watching my father go through the toughest obstacle in his life. My favorite aspect of her care was that she made everyone that she interacted with feel seen and heard. She listened to my father’s countless racing stories and history lessons, never missing the chance to respond in awe to remind her patient that he was so much more than just a sick man in a hospital bed.
As a new RN myself, it was amazing to watch her provide the utmost compassionate care to my daddy. Overall, her practice encompasses integrity, compassion, accountability, responsibility, and excellence, with an unwavering commitment to improving the health outcomes for her patients. Thank you for all your hugs, kind words, and lastly for being a great example of an excellent nurse!