June 2024
Verity
Collingsworth
,
BSN, RN
Emergency Department
Children's Minnesota
Minneapolis
,
MN
United States
Verity communicated every step of every process to us. The way she communicated was very open and positive.
I am a nurse at Children's in a neonatal unit. Recently, my son was a patient in the ED for a couple of visits and an inpatient on the 6th floor. Our most memorable nurse during this time was Verity Collingsworth. We connected immediately because I was reading the book "Verity" in the ED when we were roomed, and she let me know that was also her name. It felt like she gave extra time to us just to get to know each other and our story and connect on a personal level. Verity had us on two ED visits. The first visit was after my shift, and I was still dressed in Children's attire. She immediately knew I was a nurse here and asked me where I worked. I told her I was in neonatal and bigger kid stuff was not my specialty. Verity communicated every step of every process to us. The way she communicated was very open and positive. She often talked to my son, who is 11 years old, and told him what to expect every step of the way in a way he would understand. She helped answer questions he had as well as my own. I appreciated every step she explained directly to him as he was the patient. She often anticipated the next steps, whereby putting on numbing cream and pulling a gown for imaging, before we even saw a provider. This is just one example of the expertise and trust I had in her. The second visit to the ED was a week later. We were sitting in the ED waiting room, and she came out to get another patient. When the doors opened, I looked up and saw her. She immediately recognized us and said she would try to grab us as her patients if the timing worked out with other patients in the waiting room who needed to be seen first. It was reassuring to see she recognized us and was willing to take care of us again, knowing I was a nurse here, and she still let me know that other patients may need to be seen before us. We did not need to be seen earlier just because I worked here, but she still made us feel special. Verity was our nurse when it came to rooming in. She immediately connected with us and told us she was sorry we were back. I even started to break down telling our story on multiple doctor visits and ED visits and feeling like something still was not right. I knew she was busy; I knew the ED had a lot of patients in the waiting room and in rooms. With my nursing eye, I could see that some patients were more critical than my son. Not knowing if she had more critical patients, she still took the time to stay in our room and listen to my breakdown and crying as I felt like, as a nurse, I was not doing enough for my son and I was missing something. She reassured me I did the right thing by bringing him in and that something more needed to be done. She reminded me I was a good mom to my son and a good nurse. It was so nice to hear that at that time. She reassured me every step of the way and helped advocate for further testing. She made me feel like a mom during this experience! Thank you, Verity. You are a Kid's Expert, and we are lucky to have you!