I brought my 70-year-old wife to Proctor Emergency for a serious breathing problem along with extreme weakness. She suffers from COPD and AFIB. Before I could get our car parked and join her in the ER, she was already in one of the ER rooms being evaluated by Michele Swearingen. Taking a professional "In Charge" attitude, Michele immediately ordered a treatment to ease her breathing; along with making my wife, and me, feel at ease with her comments and her pleasant and bubbly personality.
Even though Michele had others to attend to in ER, she always got back to check on my wife and always asking how she was doing, and if she could do anything else to help her. Her professionalism and personality made a serious issue easier to deal with, both for my wife and me. It didn't matter that we had never met Michele before; she treated my wife as if she was the only one who mattered to her. She continued to display and perform her duties in an outstanding manner. She engaged both of us in conversation and showed a true interest in us.
Again, Michele's personality showed through in all she did. I told her she was a true asset to her RN profession. My wife's breathing improved thanks to Nurse Swearingen's attention, and the care she was given. During our conversation periods, we learned that Michele was working on her day off, that she normally worked on the 2nd-floor PACU area, not in Emergency. I mentioned to her that I was to have cataract surgery Tuesday morning at Proctor. She wished me well in surgery. Because it was the end of her workday, she told us a very heartfelt goodbye and wished my wife the best in her recovery. As she left, she gave us a last wave goodbye.
Because of my wife's condition, she was admitted for further observation and treatment. I truly feel that if she hadn't gotten that first breathing treatment when she did, my wife possibly would have not made it that day. Now it's Tuesday morning; my turn for cataract surgery. While in the 'prep' area, I saw Nurse Swearingen enter the prep room. I immediately called out her name. Michele acknowledged me and said she remembered me from Sunday. One of her first comments to me was "How's your wife?" She didn't know she was admitted. It had been 2 days and Michele remembered my wife's name. That to me proved how professional she is, and how much she truly cares about the people who are in her care. Because of our experience with Nurse Michele Swearingen, I want to request that she be awarded the DAISY Award for her professionalism, and personality. She is truly an asset to nursing and to the Proctor staff. If I ever would need the services of an RN, she is the type I hope to encounter. Our Heartfelt regards.