Robin Ernst-Mercer
January 2026
Robin
Ernst-Mercer
,
BSN, RN
6th Floor and Supervisor
UH Ahuja Medical Center
Beachwood
,
OH
United States
She heard my concerns and told me how courageous I was and that she wanted to do everything she could to help me. I started crying because of the kindness she showed me.
I went into an ED with sudden, severe seizures that would not stop. I have had minor unexplained health episodes my whole life, but never this severity. Because of how frequent my seizures were, it was extremely difficult to communicate with doctors.
I initially had a horrible experience and felt brushed off. When I was transferred and admitted to Ahuja, I continued to have difficulties with everyone treating my illness as psychogenic before I was even able to talk to them. Robin was only my nurse for one day, but the first time we spoke, I shared my concerns about how neuro was making the assumption without talking to me about what my seizures were like. I felt so hopeless.
I have been experiencing cognitive decline for years, which has left me significantly disabled. I thought I would be stuck like this, fighting with doctors to actually rule out physical illness before diagnosing something psychogenic. Robin completely changed my experience. She heard my concerns and told me how courageous I was and that she wanted to do everything she could to help me. I started crying because of the kindness she showed me.
She came into my room when the doctors came to visit to make sure she could advocate for me while I was post-ictal and answer any questions I had after. Robin arranged for me to talk with a supervisor who then spoke with the doctor's supervisor. She clearly adapted her communication style to accommodate me by being clear and direct. I'm writing this immediately after being discharged, finally being able to describe my seizures to a neurologist.
I have started anti-seizure medication, have an order for a 72-hour EEG, and a referral to an epilepsy specialist. I genuinely think that without Robin, I would have left with a psychiatry referral. I can't know for sure, but I think this will be the start of a return to the life I used to have. I was so sad when she was not my nurse the next day, making it so I could thank her.
I was so excited that I saw the sign for the DAISY Award in the hospital because I want to thank Robin for making such a wonderful contribution to my life and for being the person who saw me on the path to healing.
I initially had a horrible experience and felt brushed off. When I was transferred and admitted to Ahuja, I continued to have difficulties with everyone treating my illness as psychogenic before I was even able to talk to them. Robin was only my nurse for one day, but the first time we spoke, I shared my concerns about how neuro was making the assumption without talking to me about what my seizures were like. I felt so hopeless.
I have been experiencing cognitive decline for years, which has left me significantly disabled. I thought I would be stuck like this, fighting with doctors to actually rule out physical illness before diagnosing something psychogenic. Robin completely changed my experience. She heard my concerns and told me how courageous I was and that she wanted to do everything she could to help me. I started crying because of the kindness she showed me.
She came into my room when the doctors came to visit to make sure she could advocate for me while I was post-ictal and answer any questions I had after. Robin arranged for me to talk with a supervisor who then spoke with the doctor's supervisor. She clearly adapted her communication style to accommodate me by being clear and direct. I'm writing this immediately after being discharged, finally being able to describe my seizures to a neurologist.
I have started anti-seizure medication, have an order for a 72-hour EEG, and a referral to an epilepsy specialist. I genuinely think that without Robin, I would have left with a psychiatry referral. I can't know for sure, but I think this will be the start of a return to the life I used to have. I was so sad when she was not my nurse the next day, making it so I could thank her.
I was so excited that I saw the sign for the DAISY Award in the hospital because I want to thank Robin for making such a wonderful contribution to my life and for being the person who saw me on the path to healing.