Christine Graves
October 2013
Christine
Graves
,
RN, ADN, BSN
4th Floor Med/Surg
Seton Medical Center Hays
Kyle
,
TX
United States
I was admitted to Seton Hospital in Hays during the early morning hours for Hyperemesis Gravidarum (extreme nausea and vomiting during pregnancy). At that point, I had been unable to keep any foods or liquids down for 24 hours, and I continued this vomiting streak for well beyond 10 days.
Christine was one of my nurses during my first week in the hospital. Not only had I never been in the hospital, I had never felt as miserable as I did during that week. Christine offered me the compassion and emotional support I needed that week and even helped me forget my misery for a while and smile. I was also grateful to have her for my nurse because she became an advocate for my health in a time when I was hardly able to do so myself. She insisted that my cold meat sandwich be warmed up, because pregnant women are not supposed to eat cold meat, and she researched the potential side effects of the steroids I was given to provide me reassurance that I was taking care of myself as well as my baby.
She was also positive and reassuring to my husband and daughter when they came to visit. This was important, because they were in the midst of a very trying time as well. However, what really made Christine stand out to me as a nurse and caregiver was that she continued to check on me even after I was no longer on her floor. After a week of vomiting, I was moved to ICU to have a PICC line put in to start TPN. After a short stay on the 2nd floor, I was moved to the third floor with the cardiac patients. After just a couple days in my new location, Christine showed up. She was concerned about my trip to the ICU and sad to see that I hadn't gotten any better. After that, she stopped by whenever she had a shift, coming to the 3rd floor to check on me when she had a break.
It definitely brightened my day to keep seeing a friendly face. I ended up staying in the hospital for almost 6 weeks, and received excellent care from all the nurses and CAs, but Christine's compassion and dedication stood out among the others. I am so thankful that I had the privilege of having her for a nurse. It made all the difference, especially when the hospital stay turned into a long one, having a caring and positive presence to pick me up and keep me going.
Christine was one of my nurses during my first week in the hospital. Not only had I never been in the hospital, I had never felt as miserable as I did during that week. Christine offered me the compassion and emotional support I needed that week and even helped me forget my misery for a while and smile. I was also grateful to have her for my nurse because she became an advocate for my health in a time when I was hardly able to do so myself. She insisted that my cold meat sandwich be warmed up, because pregnant women are not supposed to eat cold meat, and she researched the potential side effects of the steroids I was given to provide me reassurance that I was taking care of myself as well as my baby.
She was also positive and reassuring to my husband and daughter when they came to visit. This was important, because they were in the midst of a very trying time as well. However, what really made Christine stand out to me as a nurse and caregiver was that she continued to check on me even after I was no longer on her floor. After a week of vomiting, I was moved to ICU to have a PICC line put in to start TPN. After a short stay on the 2nd floor, I was moved to the third floor with the cardiac patients. After just a couple days in my new location, Christine showed up. She was concerned about my trip to the ICU and sad to see that I hadn't gotten any better. After that, she stopped by whenever she had a shift, coming to the 3rd floor to check on me when she had a break.
It definitely brightened my day to keep seeing a friendly face. I ended up staying in the hospital for almost 6 weeks, and received excellent care from all the nurses and CAs, but Christine's compassion and dedication stood out among the others. I am so thankful that I had the privilege of having her for a nurse. It made all the difference, especially when the hospital stay turned into a long one, having a caring and positive presence to pick me up and keep me going.