Previous weeks I've eluded to the fact that as patients, we remember the little extra touches of compassion. We remember the "above-and-beyond" moments. Sometimes, though, what we remember is really all in a day's work for caregivers.

I am not sure this is the type of patient story you are looking for. I want to write about the impact that one nurse had on me prior to my surgery (cholecystectomy) earlier this year. I was a naive, scared patient. I’m sure it was all in a day’s work to the nurse, but to me, she was exceptional. Here is my “Thank You” note to the nurse who was in the room with me prior to surgery:

Dear Nurse:

To be honest, I can’t recall the nursing duties you performed. All I know is that when you were in the room with me, I wasn’t afraid. It wasn’t really anything you said, it was your demeanor and personality. You weren’t worried, so I shouldn’t be either. And thank you for not laughing (too hard) when I came to the realization that if all I was wearing was a hospital gown, and they were going to be operating on my stomach, someone was going to see me naked! You told me a couple of funny OR stories (no names, of course) and we giggled like schoolgirls. Like I said, when you were in the room with me, I wasn’t afraid. Thank you for that.

as always, keep sending your great patient stories to me: tony[at]hospitalimapct[dot]org.
I'm doing this for the sake of better hospitals - we can learn from the mistakes as well as the successes. Read previous stories on string quartets & Surgeries, Christmas, Crayons, and Cramps, and Harry Potter, Hamburgers, and Hemmorroids.