December 2020
Rachel
Rettinger
,
RN
CC5
The Medical Center of Aurora/ Spalding Rehab
Once we figured out how to fix it, Rachel said we were probably the only two women who had to fight with a wound vac to dress in underwear!
When I first met her, I thought, "Here was a tough nurse...Won't be friendly or anything". On the days that she was my day nurse, (even if I did not call for the nurse) every couple of hours, she would peek her head in the door to check to see if I needed anything or if I was alright. When I came back from surgery and needed another pain pill and it was a little early for the next dose, she tried to get the doctor but until she did, she came up with alternative ways of dealing with my pain to help me through until the doctor said yes or my time was up. My funniest story was after returning from surgery. She and I can laugh about it but I might have felt bad if she wasn't such a good sport. I came back with a wound vac and I was trying to get clean underwear on and the cords and the vac were not working. Once we figured out how to fix it, she said we were probably the only two women who had to fight with a wound vac to dress in underwear! It sure made an uncomfortable situation into an everyday occurrence. If every nurse would spend a minute reminding patients that, yes, they know you are important no matter how busy they are, staying in the hospital would not put fear into people when they stay.