April 2023
Paige
Kahler
,
BSN, RN, CCRN, CPN
Cardiovascular Care Center
Children's Minnesota
Minneapolis
,
MN
United States
As I sat there, worrying, I watched Paige care for my daughter like a mother would.
Paige was absolutely amazing. My daughter was born at Mother Baby and immediately brought to CVCC where she grew for 7w 4d before open heart surgery. Paige was her post-op nurse for 3 days in a row, and a few extra after that. As I sat there, worrying, I watched Paige care for my daughter like a mother would.
She bathed her and cleaned her cradle cap. She taught me the safest way to do it on her sensitive skin. She communicated clearly with me and the doctors; asking what medicines would be reduced and when changing out multiple IVs as things were removed, and always on top of the plan for removing drainage tubes, ECMO tubes, and chest closure. Keeping me (and my husband) informed helped us tremendously in feeling secure in the process. And almost victorious for how quickly those items were being removed.
Paige took the time to research a visual for us on the patch technique [MD] used to repair my daughter's heart. I complimented Paige in person on how well she uses her time. In those early days post-op, it’s 1:1 if not 2:1 (ECMO) so she was really focused on my daughter and her specific needs.
Outside of the medical care, she also noticed that no one had started her Beads of Courage yet. So she went back over the TWO MONTHS of notes and filled in the booklets, collected the beads. She explained the program to us so that, again, we could feel victorious for our daughter. I can’t speak highly enough of Paige. I am so thankful to have spent some of those highly critical days with her caring for my daughter. It’s a frightening time for parents. I’m sure it’s a tough job for the nurses. But I am so thankful that here I am 6 months later remembering and seeking out a way to thank her, formally.
She bathed her and cleaned her cradle cap. She taught me the safest way to do it on her sensitive skin. She communicated clearly with me and the doctors; asking what medicines would be reduced and when changing out multiple IVs as things were removed, and always on top of the plan for removing drainage tubes, ECMO tubes, and chest closure. Keeping me (and my husband) informed helped us tremendously in feeling secure in the process. And almost victorious for how quickly those items were being removed.
Paige took the time to research a visual for us on the patch technique [MD] used to repair my daughter's heart. I complimented Paige in person on how well she uses her time. In those early days post-op, it’s 1:1 if not 2:1 (ECMO) so she was really focused on my daughter and her specific needs.
Outside of the medical care, she also noticed that no one had started her Beads of Courage yet. So she went back over the TWO MONTHS of notes and filled in the booklets, collected the beads. She explained the program to us so that, again, we could feel victorious for our daughter. I can’t speak highly enough of Paige. I am so thankful to have spent some of those highly critical days with her caring for my daughter. It’s a frightening time for parents. I’m sure it’s a tough job for the nurses. But I am so thankful that here I am 6 months later remembering and seeking out a way to thank her, formally.