I was contacted by a sexual assault patient regarding the care she received at Methodist Women's Hospital by SANE RN, Nicholle Bruhn.
She wanted Nicholle recognized for the outstanding care she provided during her encounter.
The patient stated the interaction started when she called the Women's Hospital Emergency Department (ED) prior to seeking treatment because she was afraid to get the police involved for fear of retaliation from her perpetrator again. She was encouraged to come to the ED for evaluation and treatment.
The patient presented to the ED. This was a very difficult night for her. She was extremely scared and unsure of what was going to happen next, and then Nicholle walked into the room. She was absolutely excellent! The patient was amazed by Nicholle's professionalism and skill set. She reported she could tell that Nicholle was trained for this type of situation. Not only was she kind and compassionate, but she was fast with her work of collecting evidence and conducting the interview. The patient states, "it seemed like she memorized everything I said". When the physician asked Nicholle a question, Nicholle replied verbatim what the patient reported. The patient felt extremely comfortable and safe. She stated, "Nicholle helped her through what was already a horrible night".
During my conversation with the patient, I asked her how she was doing and if she was scheduled for a follow-up appointment. She replied that she was doing well considering the nature of the situation. She contributes the state of her wellbeing to the care she received from Nicholle.