I had a cardiac catheterization, and Jake was my nurse. He was friendly, knowledgeable about explaining my procedure, even drawing a picture of where the catheter would be placed in my groin and where it would travel up to my heart and arteries. When I needed something, such as emptying my external urinary catheter and emptying my urine container, he came over to me quickly. He was easy to access. He checked my groin insertion site regularly for any changes. After resting, I was sat up and helped to get dressed by him and the nurse assistant. Jake walked beside me and the CNA assisted as I walked for the first time. He did thorough homecoming instructions to me and my sister. Jake took me to my car in my wheelchair and made sure I got into it carefully.

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My daughter was having surgery and Jake was her assigned nurse…he quickly realized how anxious and scared she was. He started asking her questions to get her mind elsewhere and found that they both loved to read. He started asking about and suggesting books. I watched her affect go from tense and scared to relaxed and calm. He then asked if she would like a female nurse post op (she’s 21) because post op checks would include her groin area. Long story short, not only did he help her in post op care by advocating for her, still being by her side, taking her to step down, and staying over to help her new nurse get her situated…(looking for a fan, adjusting air vent, asking new nurse what he could do to help her). Jake came in the next day with one of his favorite books, in which he had written an inspirational quote. He came back and checked on her until she was discharged. It is this level of compassion and caring that all nurses should strive to have their patients feel.