Mallory Wygal
February 2022
Mallory
Wygal
,
BSN, RN
CATH/EP/CVPCU
VCU Health
Richmond
,
VA
United States
They went through his history, gave him privacy, made me feel welcomed, and shared the process. It was very streamlined. We were put at ease by their professionalism and knowledge.
My husband, K, and his family just recently went through the process of being diagnosed with Arrhythmogenic right ventricular cardiomyopathy (ARVC). K’s sister, B, received a subcutaneous defibrillator at Chippenham last May. VCU is now following her due to the complexity and rarity of the family’s case.
As a nurse, shifting roles into family support has been challenging for me. From my experience, I know that families and patients don’t immediately trust their clinicians. For us, that trust has immensely grown with VCU nurses. We were greeted so warmly by his nurses, Mallory and Sicelie. They went through his history, gave him privacy, made me feel welcomed, and shared the process. It was very streamlined. We were put at ease by their professionalism and knowledge.
K went back for his procedure with his nurse, Kathryn. As a previous VCU nurse, I had given and received report from Kathryn Cook in EP before but never really met her. She performed the Time Out, which I’m sure she has done a million times. K had a listed allergy to nickel earlier with Mallory and Sicelie. Kathryn looked at the Boston Scientific Representative in the room and asked if it were safe for K to proceed. She then called Boston Scientific, who informed the team that the defib lead is coated in nickel! K’s surgery was reshuffled, and he received a transvenous defibrillator with a Medtronic lead instead. Kathryn went above and beyond, helping K feel supported with his decision and the changes. She shared her phone with him in the lab to call me. It gave us both an overwhelming sense of calm. We both felt recognized as people and equals and not as a number or the 2nd case of the day.
When sharing our story with family, they are astounded by her compassion and dedication to clinical excellence. I’m sure this was just another day for these outstanding clinicians, but we want them recognized. Mallory and Sicelie’s dedication to a thorough admission documentation screening. Kathryn’s questioning attitude and commitment to best practice during a time out prevented him from receiving a lead that may have led to further surgeries. VCU has tremendously impacted our lives again and again.
As a nurse, shifting roles into family support has been challenging for me. From my experience, I know that families and patients don’t immediately trust their clinicians. For us, that trust has immensely grown with VCU nurses. We were greeted so warmly by his nurses, Mallory and Sicelie. They went through his history, gave him privacy, made me feel welcomed, and shared the process. It was very streamlined. We were put at ease by their professionalism and knowledge.
K went back for his procedure with his nurse, Kathryn. As a previous VCU nurse, I had given and received report from Kathryn Cook in EP before but never really met her. She performed the Time Out, which I’m sure she has done a million times. K had a listed allergy to nickel earlier with Mallory and Sicelie. Kathryn looked at the Boston Scientific Representative in the room and asked if it were safe for K to proceed. She then called Boston Scientific, who informed the team that the defib lead is coated in nickel! K’s surgery was reshuffled, and he received a transvenous defibrillator with a Medtronic lead instead. Kathryn went above and beyond, helping K feel supported with his decision and the changes. She shared her phone with him in the lab to call me. It gave us both an overwhelming sense of calm. We both felt recognized as people and equals and not as a number or the 2nd case of the day.
When sharing our story with family, they are astounded by her compassion and dedication to clinical excellence. I’m sure this was just another day for these outstanding clinicians, but we want them recognized. Mallory and Sicelie’s dedication to a thorough admission documentation screening. Kathryn’s questioning attitude and commitment to best practice during a time out prevented him from receiving a lead that may have led to further surgeries. VCU has tremendously impacted our lives again and again.