Emily Sitler
June 2023
Emily
Sitler
,
RN
Children's Emergency Services
Michigan Medicine - University of Michigan
Ann Arbor
,
MI
United States
Emily had been at work all night and was still cheerful, caring, supportive, listened to our questions and got answers for us, and even got us blankets!
Emily was on staff in the Pediatric ED last night during an almost historically busy night. Everyone said that they had never seen it so busy, and there were seriously ill kids waiting for beds, while all along the staff did their best to care for them all.
My son was having trouble breathing and had been since 7:30 am that morning. It was now around 4 am and we had had a long wait of many hours before being brought back to a room to get a CT scan. Emily had been at work all night and was still cheerful, caring, supportive, listened to our questions and got answers for us, and even got us blankets! She just took such beautiful care of us both; a tired young man and his worried mama. I have 2 chronically ill kids at home (one is awaiting brain surgery), so I had come to the ED already exhausted and at a low ebb. It turned out that my son had an enlarged thyroid that was pressing on his windpipe.
Emily’s calm and kind demeanor, and above all the fact that she believed what he was saying, helped him get the help and relief through the steroid medication he needed to keep him safe and comfortable. She talked him through his first, and hopefully last, IV placement. It made such a memorable experience for us, and it kept him actively participating in his care while distracting him with a little humor as needed during the procedure. I could have hugged her!
It’s easy to forget, especially under pressure, that the ER is there to serve very sick people, but that also includes caring for the mental and emotional aspects of the patient too. Simple respect and kindness are such a gift, and Emily has it! She should be asked to hold a seminar or training session for nurses, PAs, and doctors alike, or anyone that interacts with people at what is a very frightening, painful, and weary time for them. People are not at their best and I know many of them can be annoying or rude. It is for the healthy, professional people to maintain their humanity and effectiveness in patient and family interactions, while the sick people and their loved ones do their best to get through a terrible experience as best as they can. Sometimes the interactions won’t be that courteous...not an excuse, but just an explanation to help remind the staff to be patient and encourage gentleness with us. Emily is a model of that compassionate care. She gets a giant DAISY from all of us! Thank you, Emily!
My son was having trouble breathing and had been since 7:30 am that morning. It was now around 4 am and we had had a long wait of many hours before being brought back to a room to get a CT scan. Emily had been at work all night and was still cheerful, caring, supportive, listened to our questions and got answers for us, and even got us blankets! She just took such beautiful care of us both; a tired young man and his worried mama. I have 2 chronically ill kids at home (one is awaiting brain surgery), so I had come to the ED already exhausted and at a low ebb. It turned out that my son had an enlarged thyroid that was pressing on his windpipe.
Emily’s calm and kind demeanor, and above all the fact that she believed what he was saying, helped him get the help and relief through the steroid medication he needed to keep him safe and comfortable. She talked him through his first, and hopefully last, IV placement. It made such a memorable experience for us, and it kept him actively participating in his care while distracting him with a little humor as needed during the procedure. I could have hugged her!
It’s easy to forget, especially under pressure, that the ER is there to serve very sick people, but that also includes caring for the mental and emotional aspects of the patient too. Simple respect and kindness are such a gift, and Emily has it! She should be asked to hold a seminar or training session for nurses, PAs, and doctors alike, or anyone that interacts with people at what is a very frightening, painful, and weary time for them. People are not at their best and I know many of them can be annoying or rude. It is for the healthy, professional people to maintain their humanity and effectiveness in patient and family interactions, while the sick people and their loved ones do their best to get through a terrible experience as best as they can. Sometimes the interactions won’t be that courteous...not an excuse, but just an explanation to help remind the staff to be patient and encourage gentleness with us. Emily is a model of that compassionate care. She gets a giant DAISY from all of us! Thank you, Emily!