Tracey Weninger
July 2015
Tracey
Weninger
,
RN BSN
Surgery
Froedtert Health Medical College of Wisconsin St. Josephs Hospital
West Bend
,
WI
United States
Let me start by saying that I am a RN at this hospital; I work in the Emergency Department. I understand what it takes to be an outstanding nurse, and how hard it can be some days to exhibit compassion and empathy when a patient needs it the most. I find it hard at times to find the right words to say in certain circumstances as well. My particular situation was one of those difficult ones that I would have been at a loss for words. Before I get ahead of myself, let me start from the beginning.
On January 15th I came into the ER because my water had broken at 15 weeks 2 days. Let me say that this is not the place I wanted to be for a complaint like that, but at least I was surrounded by people I work with that I consider part of my family. The care that I received in the ER and by the radiology/US was wonderful. The care after my surgery by PACU and med/surg was wonderful as well. Once again I was surrounded by coworkers and friends. However, I have never been so scared, sad, heartbroken as I was when I went in to the OR for my D&C. I was continuously and uncontrollably crying. I was sad because I had lost my baby and scared because I no longer had my husband by my side. I felt alone, like it was me against the world.
When I rolled into the OR I saw Tracey. As all of the other nurses, doctors, and techs that had taken care of me that day, I knew Tracey as well. I had worked with her up on med/surg at the beginning of my nursing career. And of course, now I see her whisk my patient in the ER away to surgery. I always knew she was a good nurse, but what she did for me put her in the exceptional category.
Of course I was crying. I'm crying as I write this. I still cry when I think about Tracey (this is a good thing I think). Once I got myself settled on the table, she grabbed my hands and held them tight. She never let go. At one point she hugged me, said something to me, but I honestly can't even remember what she said. In fact, it didn't matter what she said. I, to this day, have never felt so much compassion from one person. Even after the recovery from all of my family and friends I have not felt it. Maybe it was the situation or the moment in time that it struck me so hard. I don't know. All I know is, as I lay on that table, scared out of my mind and feeling completely empty inside, she gave me strength and courage. She made me feel like everything was going to be alright. Of course our time together that I can remember is short. I remember up until I fell asleep, and I remember my response to the anesthesiologist as he told me he was giving me the medication to put me to sleep. I told him "please do". I just wanted to not think about it anymore. And as tears continued to run down my face, and Tracey continued to hold my hands so tight, I drifted off to sleep.
So thank you Tracey, for being there in one of the darkest moments of my life, and making it just a little bit better. Thank you for being such an exceptional nurse.
On January 15th I came into the ER because my water had broken at 15 weeks 2 days. Let me say that this is not the place I wanted to be for a complaint like that, but at least I was surrounded by people I work with that I consider part of my family. The care that I received in the ER and by the radiology/US was wonderful. The care after my surgery by PACU and med/surg was wonderful as well. Once again I was surrounded by coworkers and friends. However, I have never been so scared, sad, heartbroken as I was when I went in to the OR for my D&C. I was continuously and uncontrollably crying. I was sad because I had lost my baby and scared because I no longer had my husband by my side. I felt alone, like it was me against the world.
When I rolled into the OR I saw Tracey. As all of the other nurses, doctors, and techs that had taken care of me that day, I knew Tracey as well. I had worked with her up on med/surg at the beginning of my nursing career. And of course, now I see her whisk my patient in the ER away to surgery. I always knew she was a good nurse, but what she did for me put her in the exceptional category.
Of course I was crying. I'm crying as I write this. I still cry when I think about Tracey (this is a good thing I think). Once I got myself settled on the table, she grabbed my hands and held them tight. She never let go. At one point she hugged me, said something to me, but I honestly can't even remember what she said. In fact, it didn't matter what she said. I, to this day, have never felt so much compassion from one person. Even after the recovery from all of my family and friends I have not felt it. Maybe it was the situation or the moment in time that it struck me so hard. I don't know. All I know is, as I lay on that table, scared out of my mind and feeling completely empty inside, she gave me strength and courage. She made me feel like everything was going to be alright. Of course our time together that I can remember is short. I remember up until I fell asleep, and I remember my response to the anesthesiologist as he told me he was giving me the medication to put me to sleep. I told him "please do". I just wanted to not think about it anymore. And as tears continued to run down my face, and Tracey continued to hold my hands so tight, I drifted off to sleep.
So thank you Tracey, for being there in one of the darkest moments of my life, and making it just a little bit better. Thank you for being such an exceptional nurse.