Rod Perkins was assigned as my nurse in October of 2023. I was taken back to the UofM hospital by ambulance due to chest pressure and pain after having neurosurgery for a fusion of L4 and L5, and decompression only 5 days earlier. From the Emergency Department, I was expedited to the Cath Lab where the angiogram showed all 3 main veins in the heart to be 80% blocked. My anxiety was extremely high, knowing I was having a heart attack, but also compounded by the knowledge that any cardiac intervention would require blood thinners that were prohibited due to my neurosurgery.

Rod went over and beyond what was necessary to help calm my concerns. He was present as the cardiologist explained that the degree and severity of the blockages should be treated by open heart surgery rather than stents. Due to the very recent back surgery and possible complications, they would also have to consult Neurology prior to scheduling the surgery to discuss the best course of action. As the pain and chest pressure continued to occur intermittently, the possibility of a major cardiac infarction was a growing grave concern. Rod was constantly monitoring my pain, the cardiac monitors and administering medications to me.

After 3 days in the hospital, the cardiac interventional doctors stented the greater blocked veins, and told me that I would need to return for more stents in the coming weeks. Extremely important was that I knew Rod was communicating with the doctors regarding my changing condition throughout my stay. Rod not only communicated his observations to the doctors via the computer but also asked me if I had any concerns that he could relay to them. I truly felt that I had a voice in my care, and this was a very competent nurse who cared about what I thought and felt. Rod conveyed my concerns to the physicians, and I know that this positively impacted my outcome. The doctors came in daily, but Rod was at my side 12hrs a day. He is a very professional nurse who provided excellent medical care, eluded confidence, and stayed calm in a very difficult situation. He always answered my questions with clear explanations and made my stay a lot nicer than it could have been.

From my experience, I feel all the nurses I have encountered at UofM were very competent and professional, but Rod Perkins is the cream of the crop! He is extremely knowledgeable and executes the highest level of nursing professionalism!