Garrett Lee, BSN, RN

I had a very scary situation. I presented like a stroke patient, but ended up being diagnosed with migraines. I entered through the emergency department via ambulance and had several nurses and a doctor provide comfort, if not answer. When I transferred to the Telemetry Unit, and Garrett was my RN, I truly felt seen and heard.

Garret was able to communicate with me on a level that seemed second to none. He knew exactly what I needed to hear when I needed to hear it, how to tell me the hard things without it sounding so hard. This nurse has a gift of communication through humor. While I was sitting there waiting for the world to crush me or the pressure to let up, he would come in, grim, and just ask me what I needed.

I think he was actually disappointed when I didn't really need much, but he made up for it by discussing the possibilities. What could happen with this diagnosis? What would happen with this test? What may happen if this test works or if it doesn't? He didn't stop when his shift ended either. We called him over, and he talked with us more, gave us more insight and tips, not as a nurse, but as a friend.

It was the highlight of my year to thank him again and shake his hand. Frankly, I would take Garrett RN over any doctor.