I was scheduled for an outpatient procedure with anesthesia/interventional pain service in SDS/OR. I have undergone several of these procedures and knew what to expect. I was treated respectfully by all staff; however, I want to recognize a very special nurse who made my procedural experience one of the best experiences to date.

After preprocedural preparation in SDS, Emilee presented to the bedside, introduced herself with a warm smile, and transported me to the procedure room. She introduced me to all the staff in the room (all were cheerful and welcoming). When transferring me from the cart to the OR table, Emily took extra precautions to ensure I remained fully covered and no sensitive body parts were exposed to others in the room (in previous experiences, inadvertent exposure happened more than once). Once positioned on the table, Emily offered extra pillows and additional measures of comfort. During parts of the procedure known to cause discomfort and pain, Emily remained by my side and provided therapeutic touch and distraction techniques. This kind gesture of compassion and empathy really helped my anxiety and truly mitigated pain/discomfort.

Once the procedure was finished, Emily again made sure I was not exposed when transferring from the OR table to the cart. Emily embodies the I CARE values as evidenced by: Integrity- she adhered to professional standards of patient preparation, went above and beyond expectations of care, and definitely gained my trust and confidence through her actions. Commitment, Advocacy, and Respect- Emily was patient-focused and worked diligently to ensure my comfort and dignity were a priority.

I am both a patient and an RN here at RLR VA. I personally understand how healthcare providers can become complacent in the daily routines of patient care and how it can affect patient experience. It was refreshing to personally experience patient care as it should be with Emily leading by example (Excellence!).