While many of the nurses showed compassion and clinical competence, Davidson stood out in other respects. My 77-year-old Father-in-law ended up at 6-North after a valve repair and 2 CABGs. Davidson was assigned as the night nurse to my Father-in-law on his 2nd day after being transferred from the CVRU.
In addition to having good clinical competence, Davidson has an excellent bedside manner that puts a patient at ease but also makes the patient want to follow the important steps needed for recovery. Rather than just giving the various medications to the patient, Davidson explained the purpose of each one, which no one else had explicitly done. He also explained the purpose of the drainage tubes, how the risks of pneumonia and infection are minimized, and the importance of breathing and walking exercises for a speedy recovery. Such explanations serve as excellent motivation for a patient to follow the necessary protocols.
Davidson has an outward passion for his job, and I hope he can maintain this for many years. Davidson began his patient relationship with some witty banter, which worked quite well in establishing initial trust. He continued to share small pieces of his personal life which, while not expected of any healthcare professional, certainly helps in calming a patient. People often talk about how impressed they are with their doctors, surgeons and, occasionally, PAs. After a major surgery, or anything requiring a lengthy stay at the hospital, the nurses and clinical technicians are really the ones who have the biggest impact on one's quality of life for those few days and are largely responsible for the quality and speed of recovery. Having recently observed this process from the standpoint of an interested visitor, I want to commend all the nurses working on 6 North.