Being in the hospital is a very difficult event, especially when hospitalized with a potentially life-threatening health condition. Add the unknown to that situation, loss of control and a large amount of fear and it becomes extremely overwhelming.
Every now and then I meet someone whom I admire, someone who makes a difference in my life.
Today I met a nurse who truly touched my heart in a deep way.
I was hospitalized Wednesday eve with a condition that could have easily taken my life. Not only that, but the condition I was admitted with had the doctors scratching their heads while trying to connect the dots, trying to figure out how to treat my condition effectively, but also figure out what is causing it in an effort to keep it from happening again.
While here, I've met several very good staff members. But one of your nurses truly has made an impact on me.
Yesterday I experienced one of the most difficult days of my life. After three hours trying to get a PICC line put in unsuccessfully. My body just wasn't cooperating. I was frustrated, scared and was beginning to feel despairing, feeling like I was on a roller coaster. To make matters worse, today was my birthday, and the last place I wanted to be was in the hospital. But I can honestly say, one of your nurses made this day more than just tolerable, but actually special.
Nurse Stefanie Duros is a young woman who has one of the kindest personalities I have ever encountered. When she came on her shift, she took the time to make sure she understood not only why I was here, but also what my emotional needs were. She wanted to know how she could best support me by asking appropriate questions without being invasive, going beyond the perfunctory healthcare checklist. She was clearly busy, yet she made me feel like my concerns were truly important to her. I wasn't just a patient or a medical case to her.
I was a person who had feelings, fears and asked to be heard. She did all she could to make me feel like I mattered. Like I was worthwhile as a person.
She went beyond being just a care provider. She asked insightful questions, and she listened. She cared about treating my physical illness, but even more, she cared about me as a whole person.
Today was my birthday. Nurse Stefanie took it upon herself to ensure that it was special, organizing a staff sing-along to wish me a happy birthday, helping me choose menu items within the limited potassium requirements to ensure that my birthday meal was celebratory.
Nurse Stefanie is confident and caring and the depth of her caring really helped quell my fears and also allow me to feel hope.
She made sure that I felt celebrated, that I knew she was there for me as my advocate. She helped me realize that I was worth the efforts it took to make me feel valuable.
She had such an impact on me, that the anxiety I felt all day yesterday, simply vanished. So much so that I was able to relax enough to fall asleep and actually get some rest.
Nurse Stefanie cares about people. She doesn't just work to get a paycheck. She works to give her patients dignity and hope. She helped me feel like I had options and choices, like I was worth the effort of the staff trying to figure out what was/is going on with me.
She is truly meant to be in this profession, has found her calling.
She has a cheerful, peaceful countenance, laughing freely, giving respect, both of my privacy as well as my need to be heard.
She made a real difference to my hospital stay.
I can honestly say today was one of the nicest birthdays I have celebrated in my 63 years. Even in the hospital, she went above and beyond to make me feel loved and cared about. I am so grateful to her.
You did an amazing job when you hired her.I'm so glad I had the privilege of being under her care.