Andrew P Paget
February 2024
Andrew P
Paget
,
RN
Cath Lab
Maine Medical Center
Portland
,
ME
United States
He takes the time with every patient and their family at the bedside to explain the procedure, answer their questions, and assure them that they will be well cared for, kept safe, and will experience no pain while in his care.
I have been a nurse in the Ambulatory Cardiac Care Unit at MMC for 24 years. I have seen thousands of patients come and go for procedures in the cardiac Cath Lab during those years. I prepare patients for and then take care of them when they are recovering from their procedures. I have seen hundreds of different Cath Lab nurses interact with patients over those many years, and there is one who really stands out for exceptional care and that is Andrew.
The thought of having an invasive procedure on one's heart is a huge source of stress and anxiety for a patient, even if they have been to the Cath Lab before. Andrew takes the time to visit each and every patient before they go in for their procedure. He has a calming demeanor that puts the patient's fears immediately at ease. He builds trust with the patient and helps alleviate their anxiety. He takes the time with every patient and their family at the bedside to explain the procedure, answer their questions, and assure them that they will be well cared for, kept safe, and will experience no pain while in his care.
Often, there are delays in start times for procedures due to emergencies and flow interruptions. Andrew always comes to the bedside of the patients in advance to explain the reason for the delay, give an idea of when the procedure is likely to start, and offer apologies for the inconveniences and anxiety the delays caused to the patient and their families. He treats every patient like they are important and leaves them satisfied while they wait longer for delays. That is above and beyond, and I cannot tell you enough how much that means to a patient to have it acknowledged that their time is important. Andrew also thoroughly prepares for every case he is involved with, often contacting the bedside nurses about concerns. He assures the patient is adequately prepared for their procedure, properly consented, and that it is safe to proceed. He always includes the bedside nurse as a partner in care. Nothing slips by Andrew.
Every single patient Andrew takes care of comes back from their procedure with ease and is happy with their care. Andrew even takes time after the procedure to talk to the families at the bedside who were waiting on how the procedure went, answers questions, and sometimes even shows images from the case. I have never heard a single complaint from any of his patients. They all say that they felt safe, comfortable, and cared for during the procedures and remark on Andrew's kindness and expertise.
Cath Lab nurses are not acknowledged often for their exceptional care as they interact with patients for only an hour or two, but this experienced nurse knows when one stands out and appreciates very much the care the Cath Lab nurses provide when our patients are being cared for by someone else. If I would ever need a procedure in the Cath Lab, I would want Andrew to be my nurse.
The thought of having an invasive procedure on one's heart is a huge source of stress and anxiety for a patient, even if they have been to the Cath Lab before. Andrew takes the time to visit each and every patient before they go in for their procedure. He has a calming demeanor that puts the patient's fears immediately at ease. He builds trust with the patient and helps alleviate their anxiety. He takes the time with every patient and their family at the bedside to explain the procedure, answer their questions, and assure them that they will be well cared for, kept safe, and will experience no pain while in his care.
Often, there are delays in start times for procedures due to emergencies and flow interruptions. Andrew always comes to the bedside of the patients in advance to explain the reason for the delay, give an idea of when the procedure is likely to start, and offer apologies for the inconveniences and anxiety the delays caused to the patient and their families. He treats every patient like they are important and leaves them satisfied while they wait longer for delays. That is above and beyond, and I cannot tell you enough how much that means to a patient to have it acknowledged that their time is important. Andrew also thoroughly prepares for every case he is involved with, often contacting the bedside nurses about concerns. He assures the patient is adequately prepared for their procedure, properly consented, and that it is safe to proceed. He always includes the bedside nurse as a partner in care. Nothing slips by Andrew.
Every single patient Andrew takes care of comes back from their procedure with ease and is happy with their care. Andrew even takes time after the procedure to talk to the families at the bedside who were waiting on how the procedure went, answers questions, and sometimes even shows images from the case. I have never heard a single complaint from any of his patients. They all say that they felt safe, comfortable, and cared for during the procedures and remark on Andrew's kindness and expertise.
Cath Lab nurses are not acknowledged often for their exceptional care as they interact with patients for only an hour or two, but this experienced nurse knows when one stands out and appreciates very much the care the Cath Lab nurses provide when our patients are being cared for by someone else. If I would ever need a procedure in the Cath Lab, I would want Andrew to be my nurse.