Elizabeth Perry
September 2015
Elizabeth
Perry
,
BSN, RN, CN3
P6 - Psychiatric
Maine Medical Center
Portland
,
ME
United States

 

 

 

ECT is a very scary process, and it was especially scary for my 83-year old mother who had been admitted to P-6 for an eight week period of time after being addicted to prescription drugs. My Mom became very depressed and literally wanted to die. ECT was determined to be the only next step for her at the time, and she was adamantly opposed to having these treatments.

From my Mom's very first visit for ECT treatment, Beth was the epitome of a true professional. She has been compassionate, patient, and literally a god-send to my family. My Mom has grown to totally trust whatever Beth says and will do anything, if Beth says she should do it. There wasn't one Doctor or any other Nurse who could talk to my mother as Beth does. Beth even makes sure that my Mom has a mirror available after every treatment, so my mother can comb her hair that they "mess" up during the treatment. Beth has even offered to comb my mother's hair for her, if Mom can't do it herself.

If Beth is not there for some reason when my mother goes in for her treatment, my mother will not have her treatment that day, which she desperately needs. Beth has also gone out of her way to connect with my mother's outpatient doctors to get her medication to relax before her treatment and also other medication to calm her down between sessions. No matter how busy Beth is on the days we come for treatment, she always makes time to talk to my Mom.

MMC is truly lucky to have Beth Perry as a member of the team there. My family would have been lost without her, and my Mom would never have gotten the treatment she needs.