There were many kind, smiling, faces that cared for me during my stay, but Phelicia Werner is a shining star who stands out among the rest. She helped me through some very painful symptoms, using her previous experience in the Mother/Baby unit to help me find relief. From her medical skill to her willingness to make me an after-hours cup of soup, her compassion for her patients was always evident. She has a calming presence and always had a smile on her face, even when you could tell that the situation was trying, and it was already a busy shift.
Phelicia spent time to review my chart, answer any questions that I had and continued to find ways to care for me even when I wasn't present. A prime example was when she came in to give me my pre-time dose of pain medicine. She found that my IV line had given out and this knowledge made me panicky, as I knew the lab techs had a hard time even finding a place to draw blood. It was 10:45 PM so there wasn't even an option to get a central line put in (nor was I hoping to get one). But Phelicia calmed me, assuring me we'd find a solution. She was able to successfully and comfortably place a new IV line in the arm others hadn't found a vein in. Knowing that it was the only site she saw available and that I was on a potassium infusion, she wasn't sure it would last long. She reached out to the doctor and got my potassium discontinued instead of waiting for the morning. She saved my veins, demonstrated her skills, and awareness of my situation. She is an angel and I feel blessed to have been under her care.