Rebekah Schahn
January 2023
Rebekah
Schahn
,
RN
2 West
Baptist Health Care
Pensacola
,
FL
United States
While I appreciate greatly the amazing work the nursing staff do, my experience with Beck was extraordinary.
Rebekah is extraordinary. Her name is Beck, she worked the night shift on the 2nd floor of the hospital. I had an appendectomy for a ruptured appendix. After 4 days I was discharged from Gulf Breeze Hospital. I continued to have pain but was assured by the PA that handled my post-op appointment that this was normal. Three days later the pain was unbearable. I went to the ER, and it was discovered that I had multiple abscesses and needed immediate hospitalization, again. We just moved to the area and had not developed a social network yet.
My husband is a merchant marine and was at sea during both of my hospitalizations. Aside from the horrible pain and discomfort of drains sewn into my back and stomach, I was feeling scared and very alone. I had researched my condition online and learned that it could be fatal. I was deeply medicated, the smell of the abscesses and drains smelled like death, and I became convinced I was in fact, dying alone in the hospital and I was sobbing.
My night nurse, Beck, came in for the usual rounds and noticed immediately that I was in crisis. The time she spent with me turned everything around. I know many medical staff haven't had the experience of being "on the other side" as a hospital patient. I also understand that nurses are often overloaded, making it difficult for them to connect with patients. Beck was extraordinary. I am a 62-year-old woman, she is only 24 but emotionally wise beyond her years. She showed me compassion, empathy, and kindness and talked to me like a close friend, even though we never met. She didn't make me feel like a melodramatic headcase, she made me feel understood. She validated my fears, at the same time assuring me I wasn't dying. She had such a calming effect on me and while I was still in pain, I felt safe and a lot more optimistic.
While I appreciate greatly the amazing work the nursing staff do, my experience with Beck was extraordinary. She is an amazing nurse and an awesome person. She has a very special gift of compassion and the ability to soothe without condescension. She had a huge impact on me, and I am forever grateful for her care.
My husband is a merchant marine and was at sea during both of my hospitalizations. Aside from the horrible pain and discomfort of drains sewn into my back and stomach, I was feeling scared and very alone. I had researched my condition online and learned that it could be fatal. I was deeply medicated, the smell of the abscesses and drains smelled like death, and I became convinced I was in fact, dying alone in the hospital and I was sobbing.
My night nurse, Beck, came in for the usual rounds and noticed immediately that I was in crisis. The time she spent with me turned everything around. I know many medical staff haven't had the experience of being "on the other side" as a hospital patient. I also understand that nurses are often overloaded, making it difficult for them to connect with patients. Beck was extraordinary. I am a 62-year-old woman, she is only 24 but emotionally wise beyond her years. She showed me compassion, empathy, and kindness and talked to me like a close friend, even though we never met. She didn't make me feel like a melodramatic headcase, she made me feel understood. She validated my fears, at the same time assuring me I wasn't dying. She had such a calming effect on me and while I was still in pain, I felt safe and a lot more optimistic.
While I appreciate greatly the amazing work the nursing staff do, my experience with Beck was extraordinary. She is an amazing nurse and an awesome person. She has a very special gift of compassion and the ability to soothe without condescension. She had a huge impact on me, and I am forever grateful for her care.