September 2016
Adrienne
Jose
,
RN
Critical Care Unit
St. Joseph's Medical Center, Stockton
Stockton
,
CA
United States
I was in for a cardiac catheterization. I have spinal stenosis of my lumbar and cervical spine with degenerative disc disease. While forced to lie flat without moving my extremities or lifting my head, the pain in my body became intolerable. I have SLE, and am allergic to most pain medication. As the hours progressed, so did the pain. Finally, the pain was so severe I could not bear it any more. My nurse was so concerned for my condition, she did not stop searching for something would relieve my excruciating pain without causing a severe allergic reaction. After many hours, we finally decided I could try the lowest dose of fentanyl. It did the trick, and I was finally able to sleep without the pain for the remainder of the 12-hour restricted movement. Adrienne deserves a medal for her caring attentiveness. She also kept me alive and well after a doctor ordered medication causing a dangerously low heartrate and discontinued the use of it to inform the doctor that it was too much for me. I feel that she saved my life because she was on top of everything. Her performance was above and beyond the call of her duties. I thank her for her kindness and her great work ethic.