April 2010
Russell
Jones
,
RN
emergency dept
Baptist Memorial Hospital - Collierville
Collierville
,
TN
United States

 

 

 

I am writing to inform you of an experience we had at your facility with a nurse named Russell Jones. My eighteen year old son was fortunate enough to have been his patient. Not only did we leave the ER impressed with Mr. Jones skills as a nurse but his compassion was most evident. It didn’t take us long to realize Mr. Jones was not an ordinary nurse.
My son is an eighteen year old, six foot tall, lanky fellow who had of all things a hot dog lodged somewhere in his esophagus. It was not life threatening but did need a Gastro team to be called in. My son was nauseated and very uncomfortable. Mr. Jones was very attentive to his immediate needs until the Gastro team could arrive. Mr. Jones was excellent about explaining every step to my son, my husband and I, which was reassuring. You could see he wanted us to experience no surprises if at all possible. I know that Mr. Jones had many patients and duties that night. He could have very easily treated us with a nonchalant attitude since it was “just a hot dog issue with an eighteen year old”. That was not the case with Mr. Jones.
When the Gastro team arrived, Mr. Jones was very good to facilitate their arrival; moving my son to the appropriate room; assisting the Gastro team with any details. My son had to be sedated for the endoscopy and removal of the hot dog. As my husband and I waited in the waiting area during the procedure, Mr. Jones purposefully came to us asking if we needed anything to eat or drink. He offered to get us whatever we wanted while we waited. He didn’t have to do that.
Once the procedure was over, the Gastro team spoke with us and exited the room. At this point it was a matter of just wrapping things up to go home. My son was sleeping off the anesthesia and being monitored. My husband and I observed Mr. Jones very gently speaking to my son to arouse him and pleasantly conversational with my husband and I. As my son began to wake up Mr. Jones preceded to unhook my son from all appropriate machines. My son was ready to be dressed. At this point Mr. Jones could have easily left that duty to my husband, but no. He was kind enough to get my son’s shirt, help with his long lanky arms and showed my husband how to take a semi-sedated teenager and dress him. I know Mr. Jones did not have to do that.
Mr. Jones was in a word, sincere. He not only seemed very astute in his nursing skills but very concerned and attentive to the needs of my son. THAT is after all, what mattered most.

Thank you very much for the listening ear. I know you are proud to have such an individual on your nursing staff.