I was hospitalized in APU for a total of 54 days, and I had the pleasure of having Melissa as a nurse on multiple occasions. I loved Melissa from the very first second I met her. Melissa had such a calming and comforting disposition. She was very motherly, and that provided me with a much-needed sense of well-being. Melissa takes great pride in her nursing care, and her love and dedication to the profession of nursing illuminate as she cares for her patients. Melissa is very meticulous and demonstrates great nursing judgment.
One day, Melissa noticed that my baby did not look too perky on the fetal monitor. Although she was very concerned and uncomfortable in regards to the status of the baby, she kept me informed of the plan of care as she was in constant contact with myphysician, and did so in a manner as not to cause me any additional stress or raise my already heightened anxiety levels. In her soft-spoken voice, I remember her saying, "I would call your family and tell them to come to the hospital now." Normally, I would have started to panic, but I remember having a sense of tranquility. It takes great skill and experience to keep things in order and remain in control when things start to take a turn for the worse. The physician arrived at shift change, and Melissa stayed with me (past her shift) until all of the necessary scans were performed. This goes beyond the call of duty, and I was so thankful that Melissa was there with me. Melissa was absolutely phenomenal.
On my first post-partum day, Melissa was right by my side. The pain was excruciating, and on top of that, I needed a blood transfusion. To say the least, I was not having a good day, as I felt horrible. Melissa remained by my side as I received blood, and she was relentless in coming up with a solution in ensuring adequate pain control. During this time, many other healthcare employees were attempting to get me to complete paperwork and other things that were required after the baby is delivered. Melissa was very instrumental in requesting that they return at a later time when I was more stable. I was so grateful for her taking that initiative and taking over for me. When Melissa arrived on shift, I felt miserable, and before she left, I was very comfortable.
I have so many fond memories of Melissa. During my stay, I have both laughed and cried with her; but my tears were tears of joy. Melissa cared for me during antepartum and postpartum, essentially she has seen me throughout the last months of my pregnancy. Melissa is a nurse who provides exceptional nursing care, she is patient, kind, knowledgeable, caring, and overall just a wonderful person. I feel fortunate to have had the opportunity to have her care for me while in APU, and she is definitely an asset to the unit and to any patient who has her as their nurse. Hand hygiene, infection control, safety, and patient care are top priorities for Melissa. I am so thankful and grateful to her. She has left a lasting impression on me. She was a major contributing factor in making my 54 day stay in APU such a pleasant experience.