I have a severe disability where I am unable to move my extremities to even touch my hand to my face. This makes any hospital stay very frightening which is why my mom or a paid caregiver often have to stay with me to ensure that I have someone at my bedside at all times. I came to GSAM over the summer after an accident where I had a severely fractured femur. We drove 45 minutes to come to GSAM because I don't trust my care at any other hospital. I was in the pulmonary critical care for 10-12 days and had serious complications related to my cardiac and pulmonary systems. I told Jeff the charge RN that I knew it was going to be a rough night. My mom was exhausted and I felt as if mentally and physically, I was not in a good place. I asked him to give me the best nurse he had.
I knew as soon as Bridget walked into my room that she was exceptional. She treated me as a human and not as a disabled person. I have to say that most of the nurses were outstanding, but Bridget stood out among them all. She asked me about me; she wanted to know about my family, my business, about me and really helped to take my mind off of my anxiety about feeling so awful. She did her charting in my room without even having to be asked to and seemed to sense my fear and went above and beyond to make sure that all of my needs (and my mom's needs) were met. Even with my severe disability, I had intentionally stayed away from hospitals as my sister (who also had a disability) died in a hospital. You could say I had a form of PTSD. I choose GSAM because of the exceptional care, but Bridget went above and beyond and treated me the way that I wish all nurses would. I did not feel as if I was a disabled patient. She made me feel like a person and that her compassion was genuine. It was very important for me to recognize her with the DAISY Award as she was outstanding.