July 2021 Honoree
Maya Ibarlucea, ADN, RN
I had surgery at SPAH in 2020 and was so well cared for by everyone. I had to have a repeat surgery in 2021 and had a very different experience when I got to the floor. My surgeon ordered a different pain killer (because of the complications last time) and it was not working. Additionally, the machine that inflated the things on my legs to prevent blood clots was making a terrible noise. Maya came on duty and was assigned as my nurse. The first thing she did was LISTEN to me about my pain. Her empathy was amazing - I could tell she felt for me and understood what I was talking about. She immediately contacted the doctor on duty, advised him what was going on, and got my medicine changed. Next, she heard the "anti-blood clot machine" and immediately validated the sound I was hearing, she said she was going to take care of it and she did. I was dismayed and underwhelmed until Maya came on shift. She truly listened to me, understood what I was going through, and fixed it. Maya also had several patients, but she made me feel like I was the only one. That is a rare quality that Maya had. She not only made me feel like I was her only patient (while also caring for her other patients), but she also spent time talking to me when I was having some anxiety about my recent surgery. Maya is SO comforting!!! She gets stuff done for her patients.
Thank you, Maya, for your exceptional compassion, advocacy, and dedication to your patients. You truly make a difference.
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