Emily Rohlwing
January 2015
Emily
Rohlwing
,
RN
Labor and Delivery
OSF Saint Francis Medical Center
Peoria
,
IL
United States
... I ended up having kidney stones (which I had never had before) and the baby was compressing my ureter and my kidney was enlarged. I was moved to an L&D room trying all means to relieve the unbearable pain. I ended up with an epidural and then in surgery to have a stent placed. I had uncontrolled pain until the baby was delivered 4 days later. Through all of this I was terrified. I was scared something horrible was happening to my baby or me. I am a NICU nurse and all bad thoughts came flooding in. I had 3 little ones at home at the time. They were all on my mind, I never leave them.
My nurse Emily was a complete comfort to me. She listened to me when I explained how horrible my pain was. She listened when I told her the IV and oral pain meds were not touching the pain I was having. I was so scared to have the stent placed still being pregnant. I was terrified something was going to go wrong. Emily came with me to the procedure. She was there when the doctor talked to me about placing the stent; he was harsh and rushed not relieving my fear. Emily was there reassuring me everything would be okay (although that and the following day so long story . still long, she made me doctor redeemed himself when he prayed in the operating suite before the procedure). She held my hand the entire time I was having the stent placed. She talked to me making sure I was doing okay. Emily stayed with me in post op recovery.
Emily was with me the rest of that day, and the next. Pain is so subjective and she never doubted the extent of my pain. She never blew off how bad I said I felt and she continued to take action on every word I said. I felt like she cared so much about me. I really trusted her. She knew I missed my babies at home so much. She talked to me about them and got to know each of their personalities in such a short time. This showed me she cared beyond the medical part of her job.
My pain did not get better after the stent. The epidural was turned off and they wanted me on oral pain meds only for 3 more weeks. This did not happen. I delivered my baby 4 days later, which relieved almost all of the pain. Baby was fine and came to my room at 36 weeks that midnight. When I think back, I am so thankful I had Emily with me through those days. She calmed my fears and I trusted her.
Emily is by far an outstanding nurse. She deserves this amazing recognition. I cannot put into words how thankful I am that I landed on her team that day. God knew I needed someone good, someone I could trust, and someone to give such amazing empathetic care. Thank you Emily from the bottom of my heart!
My nurse Emily was a complete comfort to me. She listened to me when I explained how horrible my pain was. She listened when I told her the IV and oral pain meds were not touching the pain I was having. I was so scared to have the stent placed still being pregnant. I was terrified something was going to go wrong. Emily came with me to the procedure. She was there when the doctor talked to me about placing the stent; he was harsh and rushed not relieving my fear. Emily was there reassuring me everything would be okay (although that and the following day so long story . still long, she made me doctor redeemed himself when he prayed in the operating suite before the procedure). She held my hand the entire time I was having the stent placed. She talked to me making sure I was doing okay. Emily stayed with me in post op recovery.
Emily was with me the rest of that day, and the next. Pain is so subjective and she never doubted the extent of my pain. She never blew off how bad I said I felt and she continued to take action on every word I said. I felt like she cared so much about me. I really trusted her. She knew I missed my babies at home so much. She talked to me about them and got to know each of their personalities in such a short time. This showed me she cared beyond the medical part of her job.
My pain did not get better after the stent. The epidural was turned off and they wanted me on oral pain meds only for 3 more weeks. This did not happen. I delivered my baby 4 days later, which relieved almost all of the pain. Baby was fine and came to my room at 36 weeks that midnight. When I think back, I am so thankful I had Emily with me through those days. She calmed my fears and I trusted her.
Emily is by far an outstanding nurse. She deserves this amazing recognition. I cannot put into words how thankful I am that I landed on her team that day. God knew I needed someone good, someone I could trust, and someone to give such amazing empathetic care. Thank you Emily from the bottom of my heart!