Heather Flaherty
September 2024
Heather
Flaherty
,
RN, BSN
Adult Oncology
Orange Coast Memorial Care
Fountain Valley
,
CA
United States
She became part of us, she took some time to talk to us about our lives and travel experiences, which really helped my wife become distracted from her pain and discomfort, like we were talking with a friend.
My wife had Heather for (3) consecutive nights as her RN, while my wife is being treated for severe effects of chemotherapy. She needed care from IV, nausea meds, pain meds, toileting, nutrition, and emotional support. Heather's immediate approach showed her compassion as a primary characteristic, as she first wanted to understand my wife's condition and overall feelings as she was assessing her medical needs. She then assessed all the notes and parameters of her condition from the system and discussed plan with my wife and I regarding her thoughts. Heather is very skilled and experienced in this regard, especially knowing my wife is a cancer patient, with an understanding of what we are going through. We could feel her care, in discussion options of nausea and pain management, and responding immediately to our desires to ensure her pain was reduced without over-sedating her to keep her awareness and alertness.
I was very impressed by how well she read the situation and knew exactly how to handle the balance of several factors. She also helped me, as her husband, to understand the nature of both nausea and pain meds so that I can help manage them when we are home again. She became part of us, she took some time to talk to us about our lives and travel experiences, which really helped my wife become distracted from her pain and discomfort, like we were talking with a friend. Heather ensured she was following the doctor's orders exactly and, at the same time, keeping my wife as comfortable as possible.
One night, my wife was in extreme pain (10/10), and she had already administered the scheduled pain meds. This was about 2am, and my wife was in high distress and very emotional. Heather made the right call to then administer the secondary pain meds that were prescribed, and actually sat, talked and prayed with my wife until the pain subsided and she was able to sleep.
We never expected this level and extent of care from an RN staff member, as we know Memorial Care is highly rated for technical capabilities and excellent staff ... but not this level of care and compassion. Heather is a rare and exceptional RN and deserves this recognition in the highest manner. We thank OCMC for having people like Heather in this profession.
I was very impressed by how well she read the situation and knew exactly how to handle the balance of several factors. She also helped me, as her husband, to understand the nature of both nausea and pain meds so that I can help manage them when we are home again. She became part of us, she took some time to talk to us about our lives and travel experiences, which really helped my wife become distracted from her pain and discomfort, like we were talking with a friend. Heather ensured she was following the doctor's orders exactly and, at the same time, keeping my wife as comfortable as possible.
One night, my wife was in extreme pain (10/10), and she had already administered the scheduled pain meds. This was about 2am, and my wife was in high distress and very emotional. Heather made the right call to then administer the secondary pain meds that were prescribed, and actually sat, talked and prayed with my wife until the pain subsided and she was able to sleep.
We never expected this level and extent of care from an RN staff member, as we know Memorial Care is highly rated for technical capabilities and excellent staff ... but not this level of care and compassion. Heather is a rare and exceptional RN and deserves this recognition in the highest manner. We thank OCMC for having people like Heather in this profession.