One morning I stopped by the room of a patient preparing for his discharge. A student nurse had just finished helping him get dressed while waiting for his wife to arrive when he mentioned how pleased he was with the care provided by his night shift nurse, Lindsey Miller, RN. I thanked him for the compliment and asked him to share specifics about what made Lindsey stand out. At that moment he started to become emotional and was fighting back tears. Mr. B shared his story with me about his stay on 7 Lime and how Lindsey showed compassion and understanding for 2 of the 5-days he spent here.
Mr. B shared he was admitted for peritonitis and severe abdominal pain requiring his peritoneal dialysis to be stopped and switched over to hemodialysis via a perm-cath. He had never had peritonitis before and was taken by surprise by the hospitalization. As he struggled with the pain he was feeling and tried to accept his new reality he shared it was Lindsey who would sit at his bedside, hold his hand, and offer words of encouragement that he could get through it all. It was Lindsey's concern for his well-being, how she listened without judgment, how she coached him through the worst episodes of pain while waiting for pain medication to take effect, and how genuine her compassion was that made all the difference. She even lent him her phone charger so that he could charge his battery!
Mr. B tearfully thanked me for the care he received on 7 Lime. He shared he felt prepared to go home and was ready for hemodialysis to begin. While he complimented the entire staff for the wonderful care he received, he said it was Lindsey's advocacy, caring, and compassion that helped him truly believe that he would get better; making all the difference.