I brought my friend, J, to the ER. This was her 3rd visit to the ER in 5 days. On Monday evening, an 8-hour visit, for abdominal pain, and we were sent home with no issue diagnosed; perhaps it had been gas pain antagonized by her rapid, anxious breathing. On Wednesday evening, we returned with the same intense abdominal pain. Now, testing showed a kidney stone and UTI. We left with an antibiotic and assurance that the stone had made most of its journey already. This tiny stone should pass quickly.
On Friday, J called me, requesting we return to the ER. She had not passed the stone; the pain was intense. She was sure the stone must be stuck. J suffers from extreme anxiety. She does not EVER want to go into the ER. In those 15 hours we recently spent in the ER, she told me repeatedly that her anxiety was over-the-top. She paced continuously. She resisted the standard procedure of a blood draw for testing. All this I relate to setting up for Friday's visit to the ER.
Over-the-top anxiety, rapid breathing, extreme pain, fear. Waiting. Pacing. Refusing more blood work; it was just done days ago! Asking how long until she gets into a room. Kneeling on the floor in pain. Dry heaving. The stone must be moving backwards. She'll need an operation, then die on the table. She should just go home and die. Five hours of this, then her name is called to move to a room, but no, now she's brought into a room full of beds divided by curtains. Disappointment!
Enter Nurse Stephanie Wills. She listened to J, sat by the bedside, and really listened as J retold her symptoms, her ER experiences, and showed her bruised forearm from the blood draw gone bad. She continued to explain to Stephanie, as Stephanie looked at and felt her arms, that since her good vein had been used on Wednesday, now there was nowhere left to stick her, so no, she couldn't give any blood. Stephanie reassured her that she could find a different spot to use if that's what J wanted. Stephanie continued probing, calming J with conversation throughout the process. Once the blood was successfully drawn, Stephanie remained bedside to explain possible treatment. She wanted to start a bag of fluid. Absolutely not. J knew, from watching General Hospital, about being attached to a pole like that. Stephanie's expression never changed; there was only compassion in her eyes as she continued listening to J's story and her fears. Stephanie gained J's trust as she explained the setup she had in mind, which would allow J to pace and even go into the restroom with her fluid bag, if needed. J felt like a real person, listened to and cared about. She agreed to Stephanie's plan -- for the 30-minute drip to complete -- which it did! As Stephanie removed the empty bag and listened to more of J's depressed story of her life, Stephanie countered with a question, "Don't you deserve to be comfortable?" No response. "You are in a place where our goal is to make you comfortable. Don't you deserve that for yourself?" J shared more fears, of allergies, side effects, or interactions, with Stephanie patiently explaining that here in the hospital would be a safe place to try the pain med, where she would be nearby to monitor J's reaction, if any. OK! Within 10 minutes, J was feeling relief.
Stephanie Wills is an outstanding nurse, exhibiting compassion and skill far exceeding any of the other staff we encountered in what became 5 visits to the ER. Meeting Stephanie was memorable to both J and me. Stephanie deserves recognition for her exemplary compassion, skill, and efficiency. She managed 9 patients assigned to her care that afternoon, yet made J feel like she was her only charge, attending to her needs and taking the time to work with her anxiety. J truly felt cared for and deserving of that care.
Thank you, Stephanie!