Janet Huber
March 2021
Janet
Huber
,
BSN, RN
Clinical Decision Unit
Sanford Medical Center Fargo
Fargo
,
ND
United States
Janet listened when I told her what was wrong and offered me a solution. She cared. And that’s what a nurse takes an oath to do.
I arrived early morning for acute appendicitis. I was admitted for overnight care after surgery which ended up being later in the day. I was told visiting hours were over by the ER nurse but she assured me that my mom could come and stay overnight with me. When I arrived to CDU they got me all settled and I started texting my mom asking when she could be there. She was on her way and stopped by my house to grab some things to make me more comfortable. She was turned away when she arrived and no one came to tell me that she left my things at the ER desk. My mom texted me later when she got home telling me what happened. I pressed my call button and my nurse came in. I was told by her I couldn’t have anyone come in because visiting hours were over. I started to get upset and told her I was told I could have my mom stay with me. She was very argumentative and didn’t say the right things to put me at ease. In fact, she did the exact opposite. Another nurse came in and started to scold me for arguing with my nurse. I explained to her that we were fine and didn’t need her assistance at that time. She continued to yell at me without knowing the real reason I was so upset. Anxiety was the reason and is always the reason for the panic attacks and irritability I live with. I immediately asked for a supervisor or manager so that they would leave the room and stop making me feel attacked. That’s when the charge nurse came in. She took one look at me and I could tell she knew that I was about to have a panic attack. She immediately moved some things around and pulled up a chair next to me and held my hand. A panic attack feels like impending doom and sudden painful death. She knew I just needed someone to care at that moment. She sat by my side until my panic attack was over. She talked to me with a soothing comforting voice. She listened when I told her what was wrong and offered me a solution. She cared. And that’s what a nurse takes an oath to do. That’s what separates the good nurses from the ones that are just there for a paycheck. I would like to thank her for her impeccable care. She was the guardian angel I needed during my mental health crisis. Thank you.