Linda Valdez
February 2026
Linda
Valdez
,
BSN, RN, CPN
Northwestern Medicine Central DuPage Hospital
Winfield
,
IL
United States
The change I saw in my son after this day with Linda as his nurse was significant.
My 14-year-old son was in the hospital for 6 days with a hemothorax. He had never been admitted to the hospital before and is very active. This hospitalization was unexpected. It was hard for him not to be at home, and the back and forth figuring out what was going on with him. He was tired, and his morale was down. He had a chest tube on continuous suction, so when he walked outside of the room, he needed the portable suction machine, as well as the chest tube box carried. He didn’t want to leave the room or floor (even though the order allowed him to go to the pediatric floor) because the portable suction machine was so loud.
Linda Valdez worked hard to improve his morale and provided great care, including being sensitive and compassionate, and making him feel comfortable. She was so positive in every interaction. She could see that he was feeling down, especially after the care meeting. She collaborated with his doctors to allow his chest tube to be put on water seal for a little bit and got orders so he could walk down to the lobby and the pediatric floor. She felt that it was important for his well-being to have a change of scenery.
We walked with her to the gift shop, I bought him some candy, we sat in the lobby by the big windows for a little bit, then went to the pediatric floor to see the fish tank, and then the teen room. She talked with him about what he I liked to do and they even joked about him starting a freeze-dried candy company as he was eating and describing the freeze-dried candy I bought for him in the gift shop. Linda also made sure it was ok and he was able to get a shower, because that would make him feel better, and made sure all the chest tube area was fully covered so no water got in. She also checked and advocated with the doctors to see if he could be allowed to go home for one day before his surgery to rest, reset, and sleep in his own bed. The change I saw in my son after this day with Linda as his nurse was significant. It was exactly what he needed. And he got some of what I call his “sparkle” back. I know the nurses are busy with that unit, but the time she took for him shows us how much she cares and wants to make a difference.
Linda Valdez worked hard to improve his morale and provided great care, including being sensitive and compassionate, and making him feel comfortable. She was so positive in every interaction. She could see that he was feeling down, especially after the care meeting. She collaborated with his doctors to allow his chest tube to be put on water seal for a little bit and got orders so he could walk down to the lobby and the pediatric floor. She felt that it was important for his well-being to have a change of scenery.
We walked with her to the gift shop, I bought him some candy, we sat in the lobby by the big windows for a little bit, then went to the pediatric floor to see the fish tank, and then the teen room. She talked with him about what he I liked to do and they even joked about him starting a freeze-dried candy company as he was eating and describing the freeze-dried candy I bought for him in the gift shop. Linda also made sure it was ok and he was able to get a shower, because that would make him feel better, and made sure all the chest tube area was fully covered so no water got in. She also checked and advocated with the doctors to see if he could be allowed to go home for one day before his surgery to rest, reset, and sleep in his own bed. The change I saw in my son after this day with Linda as his nurse was significant. It was exactly what he needed. And he got some of what I call his “sparkle” back. I know the nurses are busy with that unit, but the time she took for him shows us how much she cares and wants to make a difference.