September 2012
Bailee
Schleisman
,
RN
Cardiac Progressive Care Unit
Nebraska Medicine -Nebraska Medical Center
Omaha
,
NE
United States

 

 

 

I was in the CPCU having just had a Radio Frequency Catheter Ablation. Bailee was with me through the night. She checked on me regularly, but was not bothersome. She was pleasant and upbeat and talked to me like a person, not a patient.

The ablation required a foley catheter and a handful of holes in my groin. As a 48-year old (and somewhat old-fashioned) male, I am not used to having folks rooting around in my groin, but Bailee was professional, matter of fact, and at the same time, caring. I am not now going to walk the street without pants, but I believe I improved my level of modesty just by watching her.

Including the procedure, I had been flat on my back for over 12-hours before Bailee was able to try to get me out of bed. Ordinarily, this would not be a problem, but I have a herniated disk between L4-L5, so my back was sore for sure. Bailee knew this and seemed to want me to get out of bed. However, on our first try, one of the holes where the catheter had been placed began to immediately bleed out. Bailee was unbelievably calm, immediately took charge and took action, and worked real hard to apply a lot of pressure to get the bleeding stopped. At first, there was no one around but the two of us, but then help arrived.

I could sense her empathy for me as she knew I wanted to get out of bed. I was in bed for another 6 hours before I was able to stand up out of bed without bleeding.

I am very glad it was Bailee that was assigned to me that night. Maybe this all seems like normal stuff, but this was the first time I had had a medical procedure that required any time in a hospital and I did not know what to expect. She made the experience very bearable.