Danielle Hughes
February 2015
Danielle
Hughes
,
RN
7 North
DCH Health System
Tuscaloosa
,
AL
United States

 

 

 

I was traveling from Louisville to Baton Rouge on December 11th, the purpose being a brief Christmas visit with my family. I had stopped for the evening, registered at a hotel to rest for the next day's travel and went next door to have an evening meal. After finishing, I returned to my room to settle in for the evening.

I began to feel strange (I am an insulin dependent diabetic), so I measured my blood glucose which reflected a reading of 44. I rushed back to the Waffle House, drank one quick orange juice and ordered another. The next thing I know, I was in room 760 East at your facility, and it is several hours later.

Danielle Hughes was the attending nurse, providing the normal (but excellent) care that any patient might expect. She asked me about family contacts, but of course without my cell phone I could not provide her with any information. Apparently my cell phone was left at the Waffle House, which she called, obtained their assistance, and was able to reach my daughter in Baton Rouge. Potentially all in a normal day's work, I know. My daughter is a nurse practitioner, and later told me she was very impressed by the information Danielle provided, and the related questions she asked.

Danielle ended her shift Friday morning at 8 a.m. but returned later that day with my cell phone, which she had retrieved from the Waffle House. I was fortunate enough to see her again on Saturday morning, as she returned with a sweater top and pair of men's flannel pajamas, I was wearing a cotton tee shirt, which was covered with blood from my scalp laceration and had to be cut to remove from my body as it was dripping with sweat. Knowing that I had nothing to wear when I would be discharged motivated Danielle to take these actions on her own.

It should go without saying that I was both impressed and deeply moved by the kindness and professionalism demonstrated by Nurse Hughes. She should be a shining example to all of her peers, co-workers, and supervisors at your facility. I know I will forever be grateful, not just to her, but to all the doctors, staff, and associates who participated in my care while at your facility. And I shall retain a warm spot in my heart for Tuscaloosa because of my stay at your facility.