In preparing for surgery we first met Nichole during our cardiac surgery pre-op class. Immediately she recognized how nervous and scared I was. She patiently answered questions and repeated herself when I didn't hear what she was saying. At the end of our post-op class, she reassured me that she would check on me as often as possible the day of M's surgery. I know M had a great surgeon but a few years ago a good friend of mine had open heart surgery and he died in the operating room. I just couldn't forget that.
Just as she promised, the morning of surgery, Nichole found me in the waiting room. She immediately reassured me and made me feel a little more relaxed and comfortable. She stated she would continue to check on me throughout the day. Just after 7 am I saw Nichole again hurrying off somewhere. I stopped her and asked if she knew if M was in surgery yet. She said she would check and let me know right after her meeting. Within a couple of minutes, she rushed around the corner and stated the surgery had started. Again, Nichole reassured me she would check on me later.
Post-operatively Nichole stopped by numerous times to check on us and other patients. She was a great resource for information and comfort during a very stressful time.
Post-operatively, when walking in the hall with other patients we met in our pre and post-op class, we all spoke about how helpful Nichole's classes were in preparing us for surgery and for discharge. She was enthusiastic and calming, providing reassurance and useful information.
When we stopped back to thank the staff for caring for us, once again Nichole was there. After a hug and positive comment, she accompanied us to PROG and CVICU.
Nicole always seemed to go out of her way to be helpful. Her presence, knowledge, compassion, and calming reassurance made this scary experience more tolerable.