After three days of attempting to treat myself at home with assistance from the on-call physicians, I was referred to the ER with a persistent fever of 102 and an incredibly painful headache. The doctors in the ER suspected meningitis and I went through a battery of tests, including a CT brain scan and spinal tap that revealed increased WBC. I was admitted to the 8th Tower Unit and placed in isolation until the infectious agent could be identified. I was exhausted from four days of being ill, overwhelmed by all the invasive tests, blood draws, and IV antibiotics that I was receiving, and afraid that I might have bacterial meningitis. I was also experiencing intense periods of heat and a burning sensation in my calves and the soles of my feet.
That afternoon and evening, a procession of health care personnel came into my room to administer various treatments, but I continued to feel uncomfortable and anxious. When Nurse Traci first entered my room, I had my eyes closed, but I sensed her presence before she spoke. She was calm and quiet. I opened my eyes and she stepped closer to the side of my bed and introduced herself. She looked at me with compassion and a gentle smile asked me how I was feeling. I was able to find the strength to tell her about all the things that were bothering me because I believed she really wanted to know. She listened intently and after I had finished, she addressed each issue that I had mentioned in a careful, unhurried manner. She told me about the test results that had been reported since I was in the ER and explained why I was in isolation. She told me she was going to find some different bedding covers for the mattress to help decrease the heat I was experiencing from the plastic covering on it. She offered me the pain meds that were available for me, if needed. And then she made some minor adjustments in my room by turning off the light near the door and turning on the bathroom light and leaving the bathroom door slightly ajar. She also drew the curtain in the entranceway, while keeping my door half-open, as I had requested, so I wouldn't feel claustrophobic. Before she left, she secured my call button near me and told me to use it whenever I needed anything. She assured me that she would come and answer my questions and reminded me about the hours of her shift.
The next day, she approached me in the same manner and I told her I'd like to know the results of my blood tests but had trouble accessing them on mychart. She pulled them up on the computer in my room and reviewed them with me. I felt safe, secure, and respected by Nurse Traci. I was so grateful that she was a part of my hospital experience.