Shelby Williams
October 2023
Shelby
Williams
,
RN
Post Surgical Unit
North Central Surgical Center Hospital
Dallas
,
TX
United States
She combined intelligence, warmth, compassion, and kindness presented with grace and confidence.
Yes, a knee replacement surgery, that's what I was scheduled for at the Carrell Clinic in August. A relatively routine procedure these days. Almost everyone I know my age and older has already had one or is scheduled to have one soon.
It should be a quick in-and-out kind of procedure involving a night or two stay in the hospital and then home to recover and start therapy. My extenuating circumstance was that I had had a total shoulder replacement surgery at another area hospital last year which resulted in complications and a prolonged, painful recovery that I am still fighting my way through. So even though my doctor said my knee replacement was expected to be routine and straightforward, naturally, the worry and anxiety were there for me in the extreme!
Fast forward to the day of my procedure - the early morning arrival time meant I was one of the 1st procedures of the day- I was moved quickly from changing into a gown to being ready to go into the OR. Before I knew it, I was somehow magically transported from the OR to the recovery room and then to my room upstairs in Tower 2, 2nd floor. The next thing I knew, I was waking up to the sound of a lovely, sweet voice saying my name and telling me that I was doing great, and all had gone as planned.
How does a nurse make you feel as if you were her only patient when the floor is a constant bustle of carts, people, meds, and full of patients in need of care? Shelby was able to do so throughout my two day stay at the Carrell Clinic. She went out of her way to explain what and why of what she was going to do before she did it and what if any, reaction I might experience. She truly listened to my concerns and questions. As an example, immediately following the surgery, and at my request, my husband asked my surgeon about one post-operative med that he planned on administering that had caused an adverse reaction in a previous surgery. The Doctor said, "Well, we won't use that medicine". When the medicine was still on the post-surgery agenda, I explained the issue to Shelby. Her immediate response was to hold off on giving the medicine until the surgeon stopped for his post-op visit. Sure enough, the doctor said not to give that medicine to me (the order hadn't come through quite yet).
Shelby’s responsiveness and engaging approach inspired my confidence and comfort as a patient. She had a direct impact on my recovery as I knew I could count on her as she allayed my anxiety and ensured my comfort. She combined intelligence, warmth, compassion, and kindness presented with grace and confidence.
She was my nurse who cared for me after my procedure, but she was so much more. She really felt like my guardian angel watching over me for my safety, my comfort, and my healing.
After other surgeries for both my husband and me over the years and in several hospitals in different states, we now know what exceptional nursing care truly looks like. Shelby is the gold standard for all the other Nurses everywhere!
It should be a quick in-and-out kind of procedure involving a night or two stay in the hospital and then home to recover and start therapy. My extenuating circumstance was that I had had a total shoulder replacement surgery at another area hospital last year which resulted in complications and a prolonged, painful recovery that I am still fighting my way through. So even though my doctor said my knee replacement was expected to be routine and straightforward, naturally, the worry and anxiety were there for me in the extreme!
Fast forward to the day of my procedure - the early morning arrival time meant I was one of the 1st procedures of the day- I was moved quickly from changing into a gown to being ready to go into the OR. Before I knew it, I was somehow magically transported from the OR to the recovery room and then to my room upstairs in Tower 2, 2nd floor. The next thing I knew, I was waking up to the sound of a lovely, sweet voice saying my name and telling me that I was doing great, and all had gone as planned.
How does a nurse make you feel as if you were her only patient when the floor is a constant bustle of carts, people, meds, and full of patients in need of care? Shelby was able to do so throughout my two day stay at the Carrell Clinic. She went out of her way to explain what and why of what she was going to do before she did it and what if any, reaction I might experience. She truly listened to my concerns and questions. As an example, immediately following the surgery, and at my request, my husband asked my surgeon about one post-operative med that he planned on administering that had caused an adverse reaction in a previous surgery. The Doctor said, "Well, we won't use that medicine". When the medicine was still on the post-surgery agenda, I explained the issue to Shelby. Her immediate response was to hold off on giving the medicine until the surgeon stopped for his post-op visit. Sure enough, the doctor said not to give that medicine to me (the order hadn't come through quite yet).
Shelby’s responsiveness and engaging approach inspired my confidence and comfort as a patient. She had a direct impact on my recovery as I knew I could count on her as she allayed my anxiety and ensured my comfort. She combined intelligence, warmth, compassion, and kindness presented with grace and confidence.
She was my nurse who cared for me after my procedure, but she was so much more. She really felt like my guardian angel watching over me for my safety, my comfort, and my healing.
After other surgeries for both my husband and me over the years and in several hospitals in different states, we now know what exceptional nursing care truly looks like. Shelby is the gold standard for all the other Nurses everywhere!