March 2021
Lindsey
Oleksa
,
BSN, RN
Float Pool
Swedish Medical Center - First Hill
Lindsey also helped keep me motivated and focused on the future, even when I was so depressed and scared.
I received care at Swedish Medical Center. I was actually admitted several times to various units due to some complications after an appendectomy. I should also add that I am a Swedish employee but work at a totally different campus and have never met Lindsey in any capacity before.
When I was admitted to Swedish, I was extremely depressed over my condition. I had recently had what I thought would be a straightforward laparoscopic appendectomy, but it progressed to sepsis, and I had to have open abdominal surgery. Thankfully, this addressed the issue, but I was left with a large, deep wound (and a lot of emotional scars). My surgeons informed me that I would be responsible for packing this wound twice a day every day once I got home, likely for several months. I just couldn't fathom it--the wound was so deep, and I was in so much pain and feeling so weak (and to be honest, I am just a squeamish person at baseline!) I kept telling doctors and nurses that I just didn't think I would be able to do it. I feel like I cried nonstop for days because I was so scared and overwhelmed.
Lindsey was the first RN who really listened to me and didn't just dismiss me as some hysterical patient. She heard my concerns and validated that I wasn't being overly dramatic. She told me that as my nurse, it was her job to make sure that I had a safe plan; she really cared about what happened to me after I left the hospital. She went out of her way to advocate for me to see the wound care RN and for me to get a wound vac if appropriate; an option no one had previously mentioned. The wound care nurse agreed that a wound vac was the best treatment for me; it would likely cut my healing time almost in half and would require fewer dressing changes (all done by an RN).
Lindsey also helped keep me motivated and focused on the future, even when I was so depressed and scared. I am sure she had so many challenging patients, but she always took time to listen to me and never made me feel like a burden. Because of her care and advocacy, I was able to get the wound vac. Now, a month later, my wound is almost healed, and I will be able to get back to work soon.
Although my recovery has been physically and emotionally hard, I know my quality of life is so much better than it would have been if Lindsey had not taken the time to advocate for me. I have worked as a social worker in the hospital for almost 10 years. I have worked with lots of great, caring nurses, but I have rarely seen a nurse advocate and go out of their way for a patient the way Lindsey advocated for me. I honestly think of what she did for me every day and feel so grateful to her.
When I was admitted to Swedish, I was extremely depressed over my condition. I had recently had what I thought would be a straightforward laparoscopic appendectomy, but it progressed to sepsis, and I had to have open abdominal surgery. Thankfully, this addressed the issue, but I was left with a large, deep wound (and a lot of emotional scars). My surgeons informed me that I would be responsible for packing this wound twice a day every day once I got home, likely for several months. I just couldn't fathom it--the wound was so deep, and I was in so much pain and feeling so weak (and to be honest, I am just a squeamish person at baseline!) I kept telling doctors and nurses that I just didn't think I would be able to do it. I feel like I cried nonstop for days because I was so scared and overwhelmed.
Lindsey was the first RN who really listened to me and didn't just dismiss me as some hysterical patient. She heard my concerns and validated that I wasn't being overly dramatic. She told me that as my nurse, it was her job to make sure that I had a safe plan; she really cared about what happened to me after I left the hospital. She went out of her way to advocate for me to see the wound care RN and for me to get a wound vac if appropriate; an option no one had previously mentioned. The wound care nurse agreed that a wound vac was the best treatment for me; it would likely cut my healing time almost in half and would require fewer dressing changes (all done by an RN).
Lindsey also helped keep me motivated and focused on the future, even when I was so depressed and scared. I am sure she had so many challenging patients, but she always took time to listen to me and never made me feel like a burden. Because of her care and advocacy, I was able to get the wound vac. Now, a month later, my wound is almost healed, and I will be able to get back to work soon.
Although my recovery has been physically and emotionally hard, I know my quality of life is so much better than it would have been if Lindsey had not taken the time to advocate for me. I have worked as a social worker in the hospital for almost 10 years. I have worked with lots of great, caring nurses, but I have rarely seen a nurse advocate and go out of their way for a patient the way Lindsey advocated for me. I honestly think of what she did for me every day and feel so grateful to her.