I want to say thank you to Katie Tabor for being so professional, friendly, always looking out for my needs. I have always said that when people love their profession they note, and this is Katie. Thanks for making my days at the hospital more enjoyable.
I arrived Saturday morning with a bout of asthma, but soon it was not only asthma and that treatment. They took me to the second floor. All nurses helped me a lot, but I want to highlight one of the nurses, Katie Tabor. She was fantastic, very professional, friendly, careful, always watching if I needed anything answered all of my questions. It means so much to have someone to talk to and to talk about other things that were not diseases, hospital, or COVID-19.
It is very depressing to be alone in a room of a hospital. Coming from a family of health professionals, including myself, it is not the same to provide over patients not only physical health but mental and spiritual health as well.
Thank you Katie for giving me all of that in my time in the hospital.
God bless you and your whole family.
***
Inspire= Katie "inspired" me to not give up and go home AMA.
Compassion= Katie 200%, above and beyond listen attentively to me and allowed me to vent.
Attitude= 200% positive attitude with Katie no "stinkin' thinkin".
Relationships= Katie Cares about our patient and RN relationships! Wants to care for me!
Excellence= Katie made me have hope again and not give up. She truly is my advocate, my wonderful RN with hidden "wings", my voice, and made me believe not only did my life matter, but all of her patients' lives matter!
Most excellent for my well-being, both mentally, physically, and spiritually.
***
Having just joined HCA Central Florida Regional Hospital in Sanford, Florida, as their first employed surgeon, I was still only beginning to get to know the hospital and staff when I was asked to operate on an 80-year-old male with chronic atrial fibrillation for an obstructing stomach cancer.
Katie Tabor, on 2 West, was the primary RN responsible for the patient's post-op care once he was transferred out of the ICU (where he spent the first few days post-op). He was a challenging patient from a personality perspective, but Katie continued to care for him with patience and compassion. And despite the risk of distraction from his physiologic recovery due to his challenging personality, Katie was quick to notice and notify me several days into his recovery when he seemed to be having early respiratory changes (increased work of breathing, and new sputum production).
Her quick recognition and communication of our patient's slowly declining respiratory status led to our rapid decision (fully supported by Katie and me) to transfer the patient back to the ICU. He soon worsened, and it wasn't long before his pneumonia blossomed. Fortunately, he has continued to demonstrate steady improvement, and I am anticipating he will be back on the surgical floor (hopefully in Katie's care) soon.
Katie's actions clearly prevented what would likely have led to a pulmonary arrest on the floor. Given the patient's underlying health issues and age, it is far from clear that he would have survived such a traumatic event. Combined with her patience and compassion in caring for a difficult patient, and her unfamiliarity with a brand new surgeon, I could not have been more impressed with a surgical nurse.