January 2024
Laura B
Ocampo Castano
Emergency Department
Naval Hospital Naples, Italy
Naples
,
Gricignano
Italy
I just really appreciated all her compassion during that very valuable moment
I am a 25-year-old unaccompanied female stationed in Naples, IT. On an unexpected morning, after a visit with Medical Home Port (MHP), I received a call to return to the Hospital immediately and check into the ER to rule out a Pulmonary Embolism (PE) since my D-Dimer that morning had come back abnormal. Seeing, that I got seen for dyspnea at MHP, it seemed fitting that they would want to rule out a PE. Long story short, as a healthcare worker myself, I can say the corpsman assigned as my corpsman went above and beyond. HM3 Ocampo, repeatedly went out of her way to make me feel as comfortable as possible & kept reassuring me throughout my wait. HM3 Ocampo did so much in such little time that it is hard to condense into a short paragraph. As soon as I checked in, HM3 made sure I was as comfortable as possible. Not only did she give me the standard gown, but she also ensured I changed into grippy socks before having to step out of bed barefoot in order to provide a UA sample similarly, after my CT, she realized I was shivering, WITHOUT HAVING TO ASK, she immediately went to grab an extra blanket from the warmer to keep me warm. Because I had labs drawn & a CT done, I was forced to wait for results for a couple hours. HM3 quickly picked up that I was unaccompanied (due to the time difference I couldn’t really call anyone back home either). Because of this, she ensured she explained everything she did, what was happening, and what I was waiting for. She assured me that there was nothing to worry about, stating that stressing would only make things worse (to just wait for the CT read, abnormal D-Dimer could mean many things, not just a PE). HM3 checked on me every 30 min if not more than that; not only that but after being cleared to eat/drink by the provider she offered HER OWN LUNCH to me since I had been in the ER for a couple hour, & she knew I had not eaten anything all day. Overall, I just really appreciated all her compassion during that very valuable moment, despite being a healthcare worker myself, it was still very intimidating having to be told to check into the ER to rule out a PE. HM3 Ocampo, made that whole experience a lot more calming and reassuring. She was like family in a time where I was vulnerable & alone. She definitely deserves some type of recognition, not often do you run into someone who is willing to do their job well, but also go above & beyond in doing so. (BONUS: She got my IV on the first try, despite multiple healthcare workers in the past claiming I am a ‘hard stick’ & poking me multiple times).