Jan is one of the most compassionate nurses I have worked with in all my years at Memorial. For over 40 years, Jan continues to comfort the sick, and ease the fears of the patients awaiting their stress tests. For her 23 years in the ER, Jan was always the consummate professional in caring for the most injured and sick as they came through our emergency room doors. When a child passed in the ER, the other nurses and doctors would call on Jan to help the families through the treacherous first moments of the realization of what just occurred.
Jan came to Stress Testing in 2006 and brought the same level of compassion and caring to our department. Throughout a busy day, Jan treats the last patient as kindly as the first. One particular patient had a positive stress test and was being rushed off to the Cath Lab. Jan comforted him and explained what was going to happen in the Cath Lab as she was getting both of his IV's placed. A gentle hand on the patient's shoulder and reassuring words helped the patient process what was happening so quickly around him. Jan called the patient's wife and explained to her as only Jan can (calm, compassionate, reassuring) and apprised her of the situation. The patient ended up having emergency open heart surgery and Jan visited him many times during his stay.
Jan has formed so many connections with patients over the years it is far too vast to count. The sacrifices that nurses make throughout their career could never be tallied up with the missed birthday parties and holiday, extra shifts, or drinking soda pop for a meal, but I guarantee you Jan would give all that up again to save one patient, comfort one patient, or heal one patient.