Let me start off by saying I have spent the last 28 years working in Customer Service and I have a very high standard when it comes to what I view as exceptional care. This nurse is above and beyond everything we could have asked for in a very difficult situation. After much refusal about seeking medical assistance, I finally called 911 to get the much needed medical care my significant other needed. We ended up in the ED. Early on in our stay in the ED it was clear my husband was going to be admitted. After a few hours in the ED, it was time for a staffing change. This change brought with it the amazing nurse Rosalba in the ER not only tending to the care of my husband, but also making sure I was equally as taken care of. She made this highly stressful situation a lot more relaxing. When it came time for my husband to be moved upstairs, she came up with him. He was placed in the IMCU just after midnight. As he was getting placed in that room, I overheard this nurse say to the doctor she thought he really should be in the ICU. Despite this nurse being such an advocate for him, he remained in the IMCU. This nurse and I had a conversation shortly after where she comforted me saying, "he really should be in the ICU but I don't worry I am also an ICU nurse and he will get the same care from me tonight as he would get in the ICU."
I will be with him all night. She let me know once my husband was situated. I could be with him again. About 30 minutes later, well into the 12 o'clock hour, she came back to let me know he still was not situated. She took care to comfort me. She recognized how exhausted I was after spending more than 8 hours in the ED. With her suggestions, I went home without a chance to say goodnight to my husband. The compassion she demonstrated gave me peace that he was in good hands, allowing me to leave and get my needed rest. She was caringly honest, asking me if I knew how sick he was. She let me know with great concern what I already knew in my heart, but wasn't ready to accept that "every ounce of his body is sick".
Two weeks later, and my husband is still in the hospital, this nurse was working back on the floor he is on. Even though she was not assigned to him, she recognized me in the hallway, asked how my husband was. When I stated we are still here, she let me know she knew he would be, as he's very sick. This nurse was caring enough to remember the experience and details from two weeks earlier, compassionate enough to ask for an update, and demonstrated genuine care in my husband's health as he continues to fight through all the issues he has encountered. Rosalba was a blessing to us at the start of this long journey and I cannot thank her enough for the peace and comfort she gave when I needed it most. Thank you, Rosalba!