February 2021
Terri
Rhyder
,
RN
Outpatient Surgery
Carolinas HealthCare System Blue Ridge
This patient was re-living this horrifying experience, and, in her eyes, this nurse was trying to protect her from this abusive person. For this patient, Terri was her hero.
Terri was the nurse providing care to a patient after hernia surgery. The anesthetic agents used during the surgery triggered PTSD from a past event in the patient's life. This patient had endured extreme sexual and physical abuse by a person she knew (possibly a family member?) in the past. This patient was re-living this horrifying experience, and, in her eyes, this nurse was trying to protect her from this abusive person. By the time we were able to sedate the patient and attempt agent reversal for a second time, Terri was covered in the patients' tears, sweat, and saliva. Terri talked with me about how this was the most horrifying patient encounter they had ever experienced. For this patient, Terri was her hero. The patient's husband was able to come in to help us understand what was going on. He expressed great pleasure with the care that was provided to his wife and made a Facebook post praising the nurse and several others. This nurse, with so many other examples of what an extraordinary nurse looks like, is Terri Rhyder.