Robin, a talented and compassionate nurse, supplied distinctive, private care that constructed lasting belief throughout and after a bone marrow transplant: © Marina Zlochin – inventory.adobe.com.
“Is it OK if I deal with you right this moment?”
That was the query Robin requested, quickly after my arrival and check-in on the Infusion Middle for a routine blood transfusion. Pleasantly shocked to see her in an surprising location, and amused by the query, I readily agreed! In spite of everything, I knew Robin fairly properly, as she was my major nurse whereas hospitalized for a bone marrow transplant six months earlier. I quickly realized she had not too long ago transferred from the Bone Marrow Transplant (BMT) program to the Infusion Middle.
Over the following few hours, as Robin administered professional nursing care, we caught up on one another’s lives and celebrated my post-transplant well being enchancment. It was a pleasant strategy to spend a morning; hospital visits are not often (if ever!) higher than this one.
Robin gained my unequivocal belief at our very first encounter throughout my hospital keep. Disguised as a relaxed and pleasant dialog, she interviewed me to higher perceive my historical past as a lymphoma affected person, the exact circumstances of the continued BMT course of, and maybe most significantly, my considerations and fears. Although different healthcare suppliers have been coming and going, she made no try to forestall them from listening to the dialog; that’s, till the questions grew to become extra private. At that time, Robin inspected my IV entry port, permitting her to proceed the dialog with one-on-one privateness. It was skillfully executed with the utmost calm, gentleness, and sincerity, and gave me area to reply questions with full honesty.
Over the following two weeks, at each encounter, belief in Robin’s talents as a talented nurse, in addition to an empathetic and compassionate human being, was bolstered. She grew to become a confidant to me and my spouse, Sue, patiently answering our questions and serving to us navigate a tough and infrequently horrifying course of.
The DAISY Award is a worldwide program that rewards “outstanding care and extraordinary compassion” in nursing. I used to be happy upon studying of Robin’s choice as a DAISY Award recipient.
A easy gesture, although one which supplied a substantial amount of tranquility, was Robin’s observe of telling me her schedule in the beginning of every work shift. As she usually labored 12-hour days, it was comforting to know the identical particular person would take care of me for an prolonged interval. This isn’t to suggest considerations for these days and occasions when others have been on responsibility, as I acquired persistently high-quality {and professional} care from everybody within the transplant unit: nurses, nurse aides, medical doctors, NPs, and PAs, in addition to myriad others like custodians and the cafeteria employees who delivered my meals. Reasonably, it was the bond of belief, by the repetition of expert nursing care and plenty of, many conversations, that made Robin stand out amongst an incredible group of caregivers.
At my firm, we pleasure ourselves in “taking good care of folks”. The expectation for every worker is to provide full consideration to the wants of our purchasers and do one of the best job doable whereas at work. For myself, as a venture supervisor, this implies producing building paperwork that replicate our purchasers’ bodily area necessities, after which working with contractors to get designs constructed precisely and inside funds. Analogous to Robin’s work as a nurse, it focuses effort on the wants of others.
A profound distinction between my work as an architectural guide and nursing care at UW Well being, nonetheless, is the private and really “hands-on” side of nursing. That is notably true for these of us requiring prolonged take care of tough and typically life-threatening circumstances. The care and compassion displayed by Robin was really extraordinary and can all the time be remembered. The DAISY Award sculpture entitled “A Healer’s Contact” is apropos for her consideration to element. As Robin handed the foot of my mattress on the finish of every go to, she would typically give my large toe a delicate wiggle, as if saying “Don’t fear, Jeff, I’ve you lined – you’re secure”.
I can consider nobody who higher exemplifies the beliefs of “taking good care of folks” and the mission of The DAISY Basis.
