Annette
Lopez
July 2021
Annette
Lopez
,
BSN, RN
General Surgery (Ortho/Neuro, SPine & Head/Neck)
Rush University Medical Center
Chicago
,
IL
United States
Never one time was she not trying to help, comfort, and assure me that I was going to get better and be okay.
- We are getting continuous streams of compliments and such positive feedback regarding the care Annette Lopez, RN provides, her bedside manners, and her personality. She is a New RN (RN1) and yet involved on the unit, always seeking to contribute, currently learning the Charge RN role. She often volunteers to take care of our most challenging patients and has such ability to develop a bond no matter the circumstances! Truly Excellent Rush Nurse!
- Annette goes above and beyond the call of duty. I would really like to describe one night when I had come back from a surgical procedure. My SP tube had stopped working and I was literally sitting in a puddle of urine in tears, worrying that all the work my surgeon had just done would be lost. Annette comforted me and wiped my tears. She continuously paged the urology team trying to get someone to the floor to fix the problem as well as paging the surgeon to tell them what was going on. Annette is a beautiful knight in shining armor; she did not allow me to be ignored even with tear-filled eyes I kept saying thank you. I don’t feel like my words were enough. Annette patched on a bag to my SP area continuously checked the area and when she could see that the area was leaking yet again she covered it with gauze and stayed on the phone and computer to explain the importance to someone getting on the floor to fix the situation. Even on the other days that I’ve had Annette as my nurse she remembers the little things that I like and shows compassion for me and I believe all her patients. Sometimes when a nurse has been nursing so long they forget or stop showing the love & empathy for the patients they care for, BUT NOT ANNETTE. She shows compassion, love, and excitement as if this was her first day or I was her first patient. You can see that she hasn’t lost her butterflies for the job even on the days that she may feel overwhelmed, I can see a smile dancing in her eyes. I’m honored to be her patient as she makes everyone feel just as important as the next. Annette you are a queen keep smiling & shining. I love being your patient.
- After spinal surgery, my pain was just off the charts! I have prior spine damage and a pain pump. That being said, post-op I was a hot mess being treated with Ketamine/Hydromorphone combined. I was in pain, confused, emotional, and paranoid. Annette worked a night shift and I am positive that dealing with me was a complete physical and emotional chore. Never one time was she not trying to help, comfort, and assure me that I was going to get better and be okay. Annette ran out of options to treat me with and started early trying to contact the pain fellow on call. She made calls and left messages all night to a pain fellow on call that was unresponsive. She never gave up and just kept trying to help me. She kept me calm and breathing her entire 16-hour shift. After these surgeons cut you open they see you in post-op for a few minutes. It is the nurses like Annette Lopez who are the real heroes. She dealt with the aftermath for 16 hours straight. Never turned her back on me and continued to keep trying to make me feel better. I believe if it were not for Annette, I would have had a stroke. She is such a special nurse and compassionate human being!!!