I recently had left hip replacement surgery at Ascension Seton Williamson.  After surgery, I was admitted for a one-night stay on the 4th Floor.  

For many years, my career was in Human Resources and although I am long retired, I still find myself recognizing excellence of character and performance and the efficiency of a working team:
Ryan showed me the following outstanding skills:
1. Great listening skills: He listened to each of my concerns or questions about my care and very patiently, considerately tuned in (he heard me) and then provided the care and reassurance I sought.
2. Temperament: Kind, considerate, patient, so easy, smooth, consistent even during hectic, multiple disruptions, multitasking, he always showed reassurance, with an uplifting spirit and calming manner that naturally eliminated my stress.  I felt safe.
3. Teamwork: Ryan very effectively coordinated with his colleagues at all levels with the same high level of respect and courtesy.  He simply was there to help everyone.  He approached each task with focus, respect, optimism, and a high degree of thoroughness.

On Tuesday night, my pain quickly got ahead of me and even exceeded a 10.  I believe that as my spinal wore off, the pain came on stronger than I expected.  Initially, the doctor prescribed pain meds, but the medication did not keep up with the increasing pain.  Ryan was very responsive to my needs and listened closely.  He then quickly responded to my request for a med change.

It was after hours for the doctor and at the end of Ryan's shift.  I honestly was worried that the doctor's approval would not come through before the end of Ryan's shift and that shift change could cause a longer delay in relief.

Ryan assured me with confidence that he was going to see it through for me.  He made the necessary doctor's requests and waited  for the response and once he received it, he promptly provided the medication even though it was after his shift.

This commitment to me as a patient, reassurance and his follow-through giving my need his priority before possibly a personal need said so much to me.  I believe he also assisted in getting the medication system updated properly so that the next shift would not have any questions about this last minute change.  I felt the new nurse coming on shift was also grateful.  They appeared to work very well together.

I have a high level of respect for healthcare professionals on the front lines of all we have been through since the pandemic, and I believe that they need to know when they make such a huge difference by providing such excellent care and compassion.  I also know that it is sometimes not easy for a patient who may be ill or in pain to stop and appreciate just what good quality of care they are receiving.  It is very important to me to acknowledge this excellence whenever I experience it.

Ryan lifted my spirits and renewed my belief in the goodness of compassionate, empathetic people, and reassured me of the highest level of healthcare professionalism, which we all need these days.

I felt blessed by something unique while I was in the hospital in that as I was receiving such great care, I felt a blessing compelling me to look for ways to be helpful to him and others in return just hoping that I might make it a good day for him too.  I felt like we were a team, and we were getting through this together.

I was also impressed by the way I heard his colleagues praise him for how much they enjoyed working with him.  It was universal.  It was so much so; I knew that Ryan's character is solid.