Beth Ward
July 2014
Beth
Ward
,
RN
CVICU
Memorial Health University Medical Center
Savannah
,
GA
United States
...I had open heart surgery performed by Dr. L, from Savannah Vascular. My surgery was long, two valves replaced, and procedure to relieve my A-fib. To the best of my knowledge, was brought down to CVICU, sometime in the late afternoon, where Beth Ward took over my care. Little did I know, but I was getting the "gold standard" in care, compassion, kindness, energy, and what should be the "Memorial Standard" throughout the hospital.
As I was unaware, Beth explained everything to my wife, who works for Savannah Vascular, as to what was going on, what was being pumped into me, the when, where, who, why, and how my care was to be going to take shape. Beth was reassuring and always upbeat to her throughout my stay in CVICU.
On Thursday, coming out of anesthesia, Dr. L had told me not to panic upon waking up. That a respiratory tube would be in, and my hands secured as not to jerk the tube myself. Beth was watching me, just outside my room, and saw that I was coming to. She came into the room; spoke to me about everything being OK, that she was going to get respiratory in to remove the tube. Beth explained in my fog that again, everything was going well, spoke in a manner with compassion and calmness to ease my mind that she was there, and she was not going to let anything happen to me. Upon the removal of the tube, which I bugged Beth about to hurry for its removal, my mouth started working.
Becoming more lucid Thursday, not knowing time or day, I was a wining, complaining pain in the rear end patient. Beth had the energy of two people. I first wanted ginger ale to drink, then needed ice, then water, then ice chips, all the while, complaining. Beth took care of me, like I was her own family, making sure I was comfortable, even if she had to come in every ten minutes. Her kindness to make sure my wife was OK, listening to me whine and complain about pain, or being thirsty, or whenever I thought I needed attention, Beth was there. She took care of me. It was like Beth was There. She took care of me and was not going to let anything or anybody interfere with her care for me.
In writing this, it still brings me to tears to think about how Beth cared for me those couple of days in CVICU. Without her, my recovery from this serious operation would not have happened as it has in record time. Back to work in 5 weeks, 5 days.
Beth Ward makes me proud to be a part of Memorial Hospital, as a team member in support of what Beth does daily, and many dedicated team members in ICU and step down units. I can only hope that Beth Ward be recognized for service, energy, compassion, kindness, sincerity and a fantastic sense of humor. I was blessed to have Beth at my bedside, and have a special place in my heart for her.
As I was unaware, Beth explained everything to my wife, who works for Savannah Vascular, as to what was going on, what was being pumped into me, the when, where, who, why, and how my care was to be going to take shape. Beth was reassuring and always upbeat to her throughout my stay in CVICU.
On Thursday, coming out of anesthesia, Dr. L had told me not to panic upon waking up. That a respiratory tube would be in, and my hands secured as not to jerk the tube myself. Beth was watching me, just outside my room, and saw that I was coming to. She came into the room; spoke to me about everything being OK, that she was going to get respiratory in to remove the tube. Beth explained in my fog that again, everything was going well, spoke in a manner with compassion and calmness to ease my mind that she was there, and she was not going to let anything happen to me. Upon the removal of the tube, which I bugged Beth about to hurry for its removal, my mouth started working.
Becoming more lucid Thursday, not knowing time or day, I was a wining, complaining pain in the rear end patient. Beth had the energy of two people. I first wanted ginger ale to drink, then needed ice, then water, then ice chips, all the while, complaining. Beth took care of me, like I was her own family, making sure I was comfortable, even if she had to come in every ten minutes. Her kindness to make sure my wife was OK, listening to me whine and complain about pain, or being thirsty, or whenever I thought I needed attention, Beth was there. She took care of me. It was like Beth was There. She took care of me and was not going to let anything or anybody interfere with her care for me.
In writing this, it still brings me to tears to think about how Beth cared for me those couple of days in CVICU. Without her, my recovery from this serious operation would not have happened as it has in record time. Back to work in 5 weeks, 5 days.
Beth Ward makes me proud to be a part of Memorial Hospital, as a team member in support of what Beth does daily, and many dedicated team members in ICU and step down units. I can only hope that Beth Ward be recognized for service, energy, compassion, kindness, sincerity and a fantastic sense of humor. I was blessed to have Beth at my bedside, and have a special place in my heart for her.