Anna F Mitroszewska
January 2026
Anna F
Mitroszewska
,
BSN, RN, CCRN
Cardiosciences ICU
Rush University Medical Center
Chicago
,
IL
United States
From drill sergeant to a friend, Anna saw me through my recovery.
My first memories of being out of surgery and in the ICU are having a number of attentive staff members surrounding me. The pain in my chest was more intense than anything I’d ever experienced; things were fuzzy, and everything seemed labor-intensive.
One nurse stood out above the rest. Anna seemed like she was the drill sergeant and wanted me to be able to move and even get out of bed at a time when I felt barely able to breathe comfortably. My wife looked worried, but Anna kept reminding both of us that the sooner I get moving, the sooner things would get back to “normal”.
She was compassionate, attentive, and friendly, and I would come to realize she was right. I got out of bed and got into a chair about 6 hours after returning from surgery. It wasn’t easy, but changing positions did seem to have a positive effect on my overall recovery.
She would explain everything in detail. I like that because my career in the Nuclear Industry required me to be a detail-oriented kind of person. I wanted to know what to expect, and Anna made sure of that. My pain and the fog of the day also had a big impact on my emotions. At times, I’ll admit I thought, “When is her shift ending?” I said so at one point.
Much to Anna’s credit, she didn’t get upset. She took time to sit with me and talk about my feelings. She’s a very sharp nurse who understands what needs to happen for patients to have the best recovery. She cared about me. She was very happy that I achieved each milestone.
As others saw me up and walking the halls unassisted, they were amazed. When learning, Anna was my nurse; they would say, “Anna gets her patients up and moving.” From drill sergeant to a friend, Anna saw me through my recovery.
After stepping down, she showed up to say hello when she wasn’t working. It was clear- she loves what she’s doing and takes it personally only in the sense of getting her patients moving and grooving, so they get back to normal quickly.
In terms of critical thinking, she was put to the test immediately. When I was moved from surgery to recovery in the ICU, I was still sedated and intubated. While my memory of that doesn’t exist, my wife called me to the room to help calm my agitation. She said one young nurse (whom we’d later learn was Anna) helped her to know what to expect and how she could help.
I understand that was difficult, so I‘m grateful the staff was so kind and knowledgeable, helping my wife to better understand the process. After extubation, my throat was very irritated, and I felt I had a lot of phlegm to cough up. Of course, coughing is nearly impossible at that point, but Anna repositioned my head with pillows frequently and slightly elevated the bed to help me.
She was attentive to my pain and the discomfort I was experiencing in my chest, while also seeking ways to help with the phlegm issue. From the beginning, Anna explained each of the tubes, feeds, medications, etc. For example, I was on an insulin drip, which was concerning for me as I was not diabetic. Anna explained the importance of the medication for my care, and I was confident I didn’t need to worry.
She was concerned about my comfort. In the beginning, she reached out to the Cardiologist to increase my pain meds, which I believe helped me over the hump. By Day 3, my pain was controlled with Tylenol alone. She’d give me a heads-up each time she knew it was time for a tube, drain, catheter, IV line, etc to be removed. This helped to prepare me for what would happen.
By keeping me informed, Anna helped prevent anxiety about what’s next. I believe Anna checks all the boxes required of a caregiver who is not only highly qualified to do the role assigned but is also willing to listen to patients and make changes on a more personal level. I came to realize how fortunate I was to have Anna caring for me.
What seemed overly aggressive at one point was also what moved me in the best direction for a speedy, remarkable recovery. By making sure my pain was properly controlled early on, I was able to get up, get moving, and get home for just 5 days following double bypass surgery.
I believe Anna’s passion, drive, and experience, as well as her kindness, compassion, and willingness to listen to the patient, make her a true asset to Rush and an outstanding nurse.
One nurse stood out above the rest. Anna seemed like she was the drill sergeant and wanted me to be able to move and even get out of bed at a time when I felt barely able to breathe comfortably. My wife looked worried, but Anna kept reminding both of us that the sooner I get moving, the sooner things would get back to “normal”.
She was compassionate, attentive, and friendly, and I would come to realize she was right. I got out of bed and got into a chair about 6 hours after returning from surgery. It wasn’t easy, but changing positions did seem to have a positive effect on my overall recovery.
She would explain everything in detail. I like that because my career in the Nuclear Industry required me to be a detail-oriented kind of person. I wanted to know what to expect, and Anna made sure of that. My pain and the fog of the day also had a big impact on my emotions. At times, I’ll admit I thought, “When is her shift ending?” I said so at one point.
Much to Anna’s credit, she didn’t get upset. She took time to sit with me and talk about my feelings. She’s a very sharp nurse who understands what needs to happen for patients to have the best recovery. She cared about me. She was very happy that I achieved each milestone.
As others saw me up and walking the halls unassisted, they were amazed. When learning, Anna was my nurse; they would say, “Anna gets her patients up and moving.” From drill sergeant to a friend, Anna saw me through my recovery.
After stepping down, she showed up to say hello when she wasn’t working. It was clear- she loves what she’s doing and takes it personally only in the sense of getting her patients moving and grooving, so they get back to normal quickly.
In terms of critical thinking, she was put to the test immediately. When I was moved from surgery to recovery in the ICU, I was still sedated and intubated. While my memory of that doesn’t exist, my wife called me to the room to help calm my agitation. She said one young nurse (whom we’d later learn was Anna) helped her to know what to expect and how she could help.
I understand that was difficult, so I‘m grateful the staff was so kind and knowledgeable, helping my wife to better understand the process. After extubation, my throat was very irritated, and I felt I had a lot of phlegm to cough up. Of course, coughing is nearly impossible at that point, but Anna repositioned my head with pillows frequently and slightly elevated the bed to help me.
She was attentive to my pain and the discomfort I was experiencing in my chest, while also seeking ways to help with the phlegm issue. From the beginning, Anna explained each of the tubes, feeds, medications, etc. For example, I was on an insulin drip, which was concerning for me as I was not diabetic. Anna explained the importance of the medication for my care, and I was confident I didn’t need to worry.
She was concerned about my comfort. In the beginning, she reached out to the Cardiologist to increase my pain meds, which I believe helped me over the hump. By Day 3, my pain was controlled with Tylenol alone. She’d give me a heads-up each time she knew it was time for a tube, drain, catheter, IV line, etc to be removed. This helped to prepare me for what would happen.
By keeping me informed, Anna helped prevent anxiety about what’s next. I believe Anna checks all the boxes required of a caregiver who is not only highly qualified to do the role assigned but is also willing to listen to patients and make changes on a more personal level. I came to realize how fortunate I was to have Anna caring for me.
What seemed overly aggressive at one point was also what moved me in the best direction for a speedy, remarkable recovery. By making sure my pain was properly controlled early on, I was able to get up, get moving, and get home for just 5 days following double bypass surgery.
I believe Anna’s passion, drive, and experience, as well as her kindness, compassion, and willingness to listen to the patient, make her a true asset to Rush and an outstanding nurse.