I was a bit apprehensive about having an inpatient hospitalization. I knew it was part of the surgery I elected to have done. I would be in the hospital at least two days. Being told I was the first bariatric patient admitted to the unit added some additional anxiety.
From the time I was admitted to the Med-Surg unit, I received nothing but exceptional care. One nurse who stood out above the rest was Ms. Sara Martin. Sara had a stern but kind and professional approach. When she said she would be back to walk, she was one time or within a few minutes of the hour. She didn't just walk into my room and complete the task at hand. She talked to me and got to know things about me as a person. She made me feel like a person and not just anyone occupying the bed for her shift. I knew the second day of my stay I wouldn't have visitors, so it meant a lot to me to have my request to have Sara assigned to me again honored.
I am a true believer that laughter is the best medicine. While she was about business and provided exceptional nursing care, she also incorporated humor into the conversation. It meant a lot to laugh, even though I was in pain and dealing with my fears of the unknown of how I was going to respond to the surgery and if I was going to have any of the complications associated with the procedure.
The day I was to be discharged, Ms. Martin came back to see me before going off her shift. Taking those few extra minutes is time I will always cherish, and always remember her by. In today's world, it means a lot to have someone take a few minutes of their time to make a difference in someone's life.
It was nice to be assigned to a nurse who was genuine and tried to meet my physical and psychosocial needs.
Thank you, Sara Martin, for being a good nurse and providing exceptional care to me when I was assigned to be your patient.