Roxanne Olivarez
February 2025
Roxanne
Olivarez
,
RN
Terrace East
Community Hospital of the Monterey Peninsula
Monterey
,
CA
United States
Her kindness inspired me to pass it forward a few days later.
During our time at CHOMP, we had many nurses. We had a couple of favorites. We have found that Roxy is not only an extremely skilled nurse but also a kind, caring, and compassionate individual. She also uses her wit and humor to help lighten the tensest circumstances. Roxy is quite exceptional.
The first time we met her was after at least 2 other people tried to put an IV port in my husband and just succeeded in blowing his veins. She came in and was able to do so with no issues and great skill. But what really stood out to me was my husband's hardest day here. He was facing his 3rd surgery in less than 2 weeks.
He was scared, tired, and wanted to give up. She came in calm, collected, and competent and got us through that day. She helped to put in an NG tube, which my husband hated! He was miserable, and she calmly gave him all the time he needed to collect himself because he was so scared. They ended up pulling over 2.1 liters of liquid out of his stomach. The biggest thing that stood out to me at that moment was her calmness.
It was incredibly reassuring to me as a frightened loved one. She cares about her patients. She not only cares for her patients, but also, soon after the NG tube went in, my husband went into surgery. She had noticed that I was holding back tears, and she came back after my husband went into his 3rd surgery just to give me a hug. I really needed that. I didn't realize how much I needed it until she offered. Her kindness inspired me to pass it forward a few days later.
A woman in the cafe area was standing by a railing and wiping away her tears. Remembering how much I needed a hug, I went to her and asked her, "Would you like a hug?" She said, "yes" and I hugged a stranger in the cafe area. She said, "Thank you so much! I was barely holding it together, and then I came and listened to the music, and I broke." I told her that I was there a few days ago and someone gave me a hug when I needed it. I hope it helped her as much as it helped me. She said it did.
Roxy not only cares for her patients, but also their families. During the time my husband was in his 3rd surgery, she came and checked on me frequently. She came to give me updates when she knew anything. She was attentive and kind to my husband. She listened to his concerns because at this time he was in so much pain and tried to be helpful without making him feel as if only he was to do more and walk more, everything would be fixed, which some did.
As it turns out, that last surgery was what did it, and Roxy got us through that. My husband had an obstruction, and his intestines had twisted, and the more I had him walk, the more tired and mentally defeated he became. He was in so much pain that his lower lip was quivering as he walked, and another nurse just told us he needed to walk more if he wanted to feel better. I couldn't make him do that. Roxy is an incredibly special Nurse.
The first time we met her was after at least 2 other people tried to put an IV port in my husband and just succeeded in blowing his veins. She came in and was able to do so with no issues and great skill. But what really stood out to me was my husband's hardest day here. He was facing his 3rd surgery in less than 2 weeks.
He was scared, tired, and wanted to give up. She came in calm, collected, and competent and got us through that day. She helped to put in an NG tube, which my husband hated! He was miserable, and she calmly gave him all the time he needed to collect himself because he was so scared. They ended up pulling over 2.1 liters of liquid out of his stomach. The biggest thing that stood out to me at that moment was her calmness.
It was incredibly reassuring to me as a frightened loved one. She cares about her patients. She not only cares for her patients, but also, soon after the NG tube went in, my husband went into surgery. She had noticed that I was holding back tears, and she came back after my husband went into his 3rd surgery just to give me a hug. I really needed that. I didn't realize how much I needed it until she offered. Her kindness inspired me to pass it forward a few days later.
A woman in the cafe area was standing by a railing and wiping away her tears. Remembering how much I needed a hug, I went to her and asked her, "Would you like a hug?" She said, "yes" and I hugged a stranger in the cafe area. She said, "Thank you so much! I was barely holding it together, and then I came and listened to the music, and I broke." I told her that I was there a few days ago and someone gave me a hug when I needed it. I hope it helped her as much as it helped me. She said it did.
Roxy not only cares for her patients, but also their families. During the time my husband was in his 3rd surgery, she came and checked on me frequently. She came to give me updates when she knew anything. She was attentive and kind to my husband. She listened to his concerns because at this time he was in so much pain and tried to be helpful without making him feel as if only he was to do more and walk more, everything would be fixed, which some did.
As it turns out, that last surgery was what did it, and Roxy got us through that. My husband had an obstruction, and his intestines had twisted, and the more I had him walk, the more tired and mentally defeated he became. He was in so much pain that his lower lip was quivering as he walked, and another nurse just told us he needed to walk more if he wanted to feel better. I couldn't make him do that. Roxy is an incredibly special Nurse.