Jackie Thatcher
May 2025
Jackie
Thatcher
,
RN
Emergency Department
UVMHN Porter Medical Center
Middlebury
,
VT
United States
I'll never forget her kindness. She'll forever be a special part of my journey and a beacon of light in the darkness I experienced.
When I arrived, Jackie was taking care of me as I was in critical condition. She stayed by my side and monitored me from the time I arrived until the time I was sent to emergency lifesaving surgery. I was in the worst pain I'd ever experienced and although a majority of my time is foggy, I remember Jackie constantly letting me know I'd be okay, and she wasn't leaving. On top of the nursing care she provided, she created a therapeutic bond with me that made me feel safe when I thought I was dying. She nurtured me in ways that I'll never forget! She advocated for me the entire time, even when it was taking too long for me to be sent for scans. She stayed longer to see me off to surgery. Jackie is an exceptional nurse and I honestly can't begin to describe the impact she had on my life. I've talked about her to so many people, praising her for what she did for me. I'll never forget her kindness. She'll forever be a special part of my journey and a beacon of light in the darkness I experienced. She deserves recognition for the way she took care of me in such a graceful way - especially with how critical my case was. I'm so thankful for her!
***
Jackie is facultative and not obligate. That means she adapts to the patient's needs. She follows the rules of the hospital, but she doesn’t forget to do all that she can to take care of patients’ wants, too. I don’t like having anything on my left arm where I have a fistula for my dialysis, and I don’t even like having my ID on my left arm, and I can go to the ER because I broke my right arm. So, Jackie said she is willing to put my wrist ID band on my ankle instead. This followed hospital protocol to have an ID band on a patient, but she did not force me to put it on my wrist. The details are less important. The most important thing is that she listened to me, worked with me, and took care of me, but also made sure protocol was followed. Other nurses should learn to be facultative and less obligate. Learn to balance like Jackie did.
***
Jackie is facultative and not obligate. That means she adapts to the patient's needs. She follows the rules of the hospital, but she doesn’t forget to do all that she can to take care of patients’ wants, too. I don’t like having anything on my left arm where I have a fistula for my dialysis, and I don’t even like having my ID on my left arm, and I can go to the ER because I broke my right arm. So, Jackie said she is willing to put my wrist ID band on my ankle instead. This followed hospital protocol to have an ID band on a patient, but she did not force me to put it on my wrist. The details are less important. The most important thing is that she listened to me, worked with me, and took care of me, but also made sure protocol was followed. Other nurses should learn to be facultative and less obligate. Learn to balance like Jackie did.