Mike Girard
December 2013
Mike
Girard
,
RN
Coronary Care Unit
Doctors Medical Centre of Modesto
Modesto
,
CA
United States
From Patient - I didn't fully understand the role you played following my arrival at DMC until my wife described your contribution to my survival following my heart attack. She also didn't fail to mention the support you gave her during the most threatening hours of crisis. You greatly exceeded your call to duty in both regards.
I'm feeling much better now that I'm home. It took two or three days for my wife and me to decompress from our ordeal, but things are almost back to normal. I suspect that by this time next month I will return to my usual routines, with the significant exceptions of being a non-smoker and a healthier eater/exerciser.
Please accept my deepest gratitude for your attentiveness to my needs as well as your professionalism in providing for them. You will not soon be forgotten.
From Spouse - Thursday, July 25, 2013, was the worst day of my life. That was the day my husband, had a heart attack.
My husband and I were fortunate that you were assigned to care for him that evening. As you made your assessment and familiarized yourself with his medications, treatment protocol, etc., I observed how deliberate your actions were. I felt confident with your decision-making and knew you would not do anything without knowing what results were intended. You spoke to me in a calm and straightforward manner, which was exactly what the situation required.
As I spent more time with you over the course of the next few days the characteristics that I saw in you were exactly what make a good nurse a great one. These include qualities such as compassion, respect for the patient and their loved ones, excellent decision-making, stamina, resourcefulness, clear communication, knowledge of the profession, and the ability to stay calm in a crisis situation. You were able to verbalize, without giving direct advice, your opinions regarding my husband's chances for a full recovery, and the very difficult DNR decision that I was faced with.
I believe that if there is such a thing as a "calling," you have found yours. I will be forever grateful to you for the outstanding care you gave my husband, as well as for the support you gave me.
I'm feeling much better now that I'm home. It took two or three days for my wife and me to decompress from our ordeal, but things are almost back to normal. I suspect that by this time next month I will return to my usual routines, with the significant exceptions of being a non-smoker and a healthier eater/exerciser.
Please accept my deepest gratitude for your attentiveness to my needs as well as your professionalism in providing for them. You will not soon be forgotten.
From Spouse - Thursday, July 25, 2013, was the worst day of my life. That was the day my husband, had a heart attack.
My husband and I were fortunate that you were assigned to care for him that evening. As you made your assessment and familiarized yourself with his medications, treatment protocol, etc., I observed how deliberate your actions were. I felt confident with your decision-making and knew you would not do anything without knowing what results were intended. You spoke to me in a calm and straightforward manner, which was exactly what the situation required.
As I spent more time with you over the course of the next few days the characteristics that I saw in you were exactly what make a good nurse a great one. These include qualities such as compassion, respect for the patient and their loved ones, excellent decision-making, stamina, resourcefulness, clear communication, knowledge of the profession, and the ability to stay calm in a crisis situation. You were able to verbalize, without giving direct advice, your opinions regarding my husband's chances for a full recovery, and the very difficult DNR decision that I was faced with.
I believe that if there is such a thing as a "calling," you have found yours. I will be forever grateful to you for the outstanding care you gave my husband, as well as for the support you gave me.