Jennifer L Gaytan
June 2025
Jennifer L
Gaytan
,
BSN, RN
Medical Intensive Care Unit
Barnes-Jewish Hospital
St Louis
,
MO
United States
Jenny was a positive, strong, intelligent, caring, and empathetic person.
Jenny is a very special nurse to my brother, who is her patient, and to my family. She made a lasting impact and truly changed our lives. Specifically, the night my brother was intubated. Jenny was his nurse. I flew in on a red-eye flight across the country, desperate to get to my brother and family.
When I arrived, Jenny was a positive, strong, intelligent, caring, and empathetic person. She really took the time to sit down with me and my mom to discuss my brother’s situation and potential outcome. She never once was frustrated or too busy to answer anything we asked. She gave me the courage, strength, and inspiration I needed to be there for my brother during one of the scariest and most difficult moments of my life, and his too.
We were blessed to have Jenny three nights in a row. Her attentiveness to my brother, despite his baseline physical and cognitive delays due to muscular dystrophy and sedation, was unlike any care we’ve ever experienced. She asked questions to get to know him, what he likes and doesn’t like, and what makes him comfortable.
My brother slowly came off sedation because Jenny fiercely advocated for him and his ability to remain calm. She talked to him respectfully, but cognitively appropriate. Jenny, with her amazing nursing knowledge, suggested they administer Precedex to him to manage his mild hospital anxiety, but allow him to be aware and alert enough to communicate with us while intubated. That medication suggestion and advocacy were monumental. Jenny got to know my brother’s story of witnessing our dad pass away on a ventilator, but listened when he fought sedation.
Overall, her nursing knowledge is next level. Her bedside manner is honest, calm, patient, respectful, and filled with active listening, clear communication, and a positive attitude. Jenny consistently showed knowledge, compassion, and exceptional care all three days for all 12 hours. She also never once forgot to ask how we were and if we needed anything. She still asks us about my brother, and we appreciate her very much. Her recommendations were always within reason, and she never promised anything, and told the entire family about the severity of his case.
When I arrived, Jenny was a positive, strong, intelligent, caring, and empathetic person. She really took the time to sit down with me and my mom to discuss my brother’s situation and potential outcome. She never once was frustrated or too busy to answer anything we asked. She gave me the courage, strength, and inspiration I needed to be there for my brother during one of the scariest and most difficult moments of my life, and his too.
We were blessed to have Jenny three nights in a row. Her attentiveness to my brother, despite his baseline physical and cognitive delays due to muscular dystrophy and sedation, was unlike any care we’ve ever experienced. She asked questions to get to know him, what he likes and doesn’t like, and what makes him comfortable.
My brother slowly came off sedation because Jenny fiercely advocated for him and his ability to remain calm. She talked to him respectfully, but cognitively appropriate. Jenny, with her amazing nursing knowledge, suggested they administer Precedex to him to manage his mild hospital anxiety, but allow him to be aware and alert enough to communicate with us while intubated. That medication suggestion and advocacy were monumental. Jenny got to know my brother’s story of witnessing our dad pass away on a ventilator, but listened when he fought sedation.
Overall, her nursing knowledge is next level. Her bedside manner is honest, calm, patient, respectful, and filled with active listening, clear communication, and a positive attitude. Jenny consistently showed knowledge, compassion, and exceptional care all three days for all 12 hours. She also never once forgot to ask how we were and if we needed anything. She still asks us about my brother, and we appreciate her very much. Her recommendations were always within reason, and she never promised anything, and told the entire family about the severity of his case.