Carol Wieher
September 2021
Carol
Wieher
,
RN
Pre-Op
Adventist HealthCare - Shady Grove Medical Center
Rockville
,
MD
United States
Carol really looked at me and paid attention, so she could tell when my words didn’t match my physical response.
Throughout my 5-day inpatient stay at SGMC I was treated by several great nurses, but one took care of me. I had already undergone one surgery and had spent the next day in excruciating pain before I met Carol in pre-op for my second surgery. By that time I was exasperated with my inability to do “normal” things like eat solid food and sit up without crying, and I was scared. For days, nurses had asked me how I was or if I needed anything. Not wanting to be a bother, I frequently just gave non-responsive answers like, “I’m fine” and “No, thank you.” While I was waiting to be taken into the operating room Carol asked if I was comfortable. I told her yes, but she called me out on it.
“The look on your face doesn’t tell me you are fine.” I was a little surprised. She came over and adjusted my gurney and honestly it did make me more comfortable. I laid in the bay outside the doors to the operating rooms and every time they opened a blast of cold air blew all over me. Carol asked if I was warm enough. I told her I was fine. Again she called me out. “I saw you shiver when the door opened. Let me get you a warm blanket.” Carol really looked at me and paid attention, so she could tell when my words didn’t match my physical response. She didn’t act mechanically; she reacted to what she saw. When you read this story it may not seem dramatic, but it is. Carol was caring for my needs.
“The look on your face doesn’t tell me you are fine.” I was a little surprised. She came over and adjusted my gurney and honestly it did make me more comfortable. I laid in the bay outside the doors to the operating rooms and every time they opened a blast of cold air blew all over me. Carol asked if I was warm enough. I told her I was fine. Again she called me out. “I saw you shiver when the door opened. Let me get you a warm blanket.” Carol really looked at me and paid attention, so she could tell when my words didn’t match my physical response. She didn’t act mechanically; she reacted to what she saw. When you read this story it may not seem dramatic, but it is. Carol was caring for my needs.