September 2023
Abby
Spector
,
BSN, RN
TH 17 East
NYU Langone Hospitals - Tisch/Kimmel
New York
,
NY
United States
l never squeezed her hands but I just overlaid my hands with hers for support. Even after it went excellent, she continued to show encouragement by telling me a great job, and that we did it with no complications.
From the moment she introduced herself, she greeted me with smiles and positive energy. She was extremely polite and always made sure I was comfortable. But I believe what made her extra special to me was when I was scheduled to get a lumbar spinal procedure done. I was not aware she would be there for moral support and encouragement and that I would handle it with incredible confidence. She took my hand and told me to squeeze it if I felt pain. Before the actual procedure began, I shed a few tears to get it out of my system to focus on the stillness I had to have during the spinal fluid procedure. She told me that she could clear the room for more privacy but I said thank you, but it this percedure a rare opportunity. She said this would be the second one she had in her years as a nurse. By coincidence, a group of nurse students happened to be on the floor to witness. Before the procedure was set up, I had to tell Abby that things happen to me that are not clear when they happen to me. Only at a time later in life did I realize the point of the moment. She remembered that conversation and told me, that maybe this is the point of this procedure, to help this group of young future nurse and their instructor to witness the procedure live and learn what it is like not just to read and sew on video, but to see all of the things that they will experience and have the opportunity to ask questions during the experience. She gave me more reason to accept that there was more than just me that would benefit from the procedure, but many other future patients would benefit from the knowledge this student nurse would learn. The procedure took place, l never squeezed her hands but I just overlaid my hands with hers for support. Even after it went excellent, she continued to show encouragement by telling me a great job, and that we did it with no complications. While I walked later that afternoon, I saw the flyer, and I was moved to honor her commitment as a nurse/essential worker that showed actions that went above and beyond in my case. Please showcase this incredible moment and please honor her for this marvelous attention to me at an extremely scary moment during my say at her unit.