Derrick Forrester
June 2014
Derrick
Forrester
,
RN, ASN
Resource Pool
Northeast Georgia Health System
Gainesville
,
GA
United States
I would like to take this time and express my sincere appreciation for Derrick Forrester. Last Tuesday, April 29, 2014, I had a colonoscopy performed in my town of Cincinnati, Ohio. During this procedure, a polyp was removed and afterwards I was sent home as all indications were the procedure was a success.
On Wednesday April 30, 2014, I had business travel from Cincinnati, OH to Cornelia, GA for 5 days. On Thursday May 01, 2014, I noticed severe bleeding during a bowel movement. I then proceeded to Habersham Medical Center to have my blood levels evaluated. My blood levels were okay and I was released and went back to my hotel room. During the evening, the bleeding continued and the next day my coworkers at J&J Cornelia, GA rushed me to Northeast Georgia Medical Center where I was admitted.
I was assigned room 4340 and was told I would need to have another colonoscopy of Saturday morning (May 03, 2014) if the bleeding did not cease. As you are aware, the worst part of a colonoscopy is the prep work and since I had just gone through this prep earlier in the week for the original colonoscopy, I was not looking forward to another round. Reluctantly, I began on Friday May 02, 2014 at approximately 5pm.
With the prep work and the continuation of my bleeding, my condition worsened. Blood levels and pressures were consistently monitored. IV's were administered and the use of the bathroom was a regular necessity. The use of the bathroom is very difficult when hooked up to IV's and dragging various pieces of medical equipment with me during each bathroom visit.
Derrick introduced himself to my wife (she had flown down from Cincinnati that afternoon) and me shortly after 7pm on Friday May 02, 2014 and indicated he would be my nurse and be taking care of me this evening. He mentioned, if there was anything I wanted, he would get it for me. He promised he would take care of me.
My conditioned worsened throughout the evening. Blood pressures and hemoglobin levels continued to drop and my trips to the bathroom along with the bleeding continued to increase. Life was not very fun for me that evening.
Through all of this, Derrick continued to monitor my situation. Even though my hemoglobin levels continued to drop and I continued to expel more blood during my bathroom visits, the doctor on call kept holding off on starting a blood transfusion. I was extremely concerned about this waiting and Derrick was able to convince the doctor they needed to start right away. That was the first of three transfusions that I received, and am thankful Derrick was there to push for the necessary treatment.
Derrick continued to monitor my situation during his shift as all the nurses did during my four day stay. The thing that stood out to me about Derrick was his wonderful bedside manner. This often seems like a little thing in today's fast paced society, but it means a lot to my wife and me.
Derrick told us his goal was to treat someone like he would like to be treated if he were in that position. He not only did that, but it made my night much better. Since this was my first hospital admittance and not to mention far from home, one of the most difficult activities is the continued waiting and not knowing what is going to take place next or when it will take place. Derrick continuously kept me updated on everything which was comforting not only for me, but to my wife.
One of the things I will remember the most about my stay that Friday evening was how Derrick took the time to learn about my wife and me. He asked us questions about our lives, backgrounds, goals, etc. He told us about his past in New York area for nursing and then growing up as a child in Jamaica. This was such a welcome relief to have these discussions especially with all the IV's, blood work, and frequent trips to the bathroom that were occurring. These personal conversations made my night more tolerable and made me feel like someone really cared about me as a person and not just a patient. On Saturday May 03, 2014 it was also my wife's birthday at midnight and Derrick even wished her a happy birthday. It meant a lot to her and as one can imagine, there are much better places to spend a birthday than in a hospital with your husband drinking a colon prep solution!
At a local Cincinnati Church, they have a saying outside their building that says "Small things done with great love can change the world." Derrick was an example of this statement for me last Friday evening. He has set the standard for me to judge all future caregivers and nurses.
I was released from the Northeast Georgia Hospital on Monday May 05, 2014 and returned to Cincinnati that same day. My life and health will eventually return to normal. In the future, I hope I never have to visit a hospital again, but should I, I can only hope for a nurse who provides the level of care, support and personal connection that Derrick Forrester provided to me during his shift on Friday May 02, 2014. Please thank all your nurses for their support and professionalism they provided to me during my visit and to Derrick please say "Tanks mon."
On Wednesday April 30, 2014, I had business travel from Cincinnati, OH to Cornelia, GA for 5 days. On Thursday May 01, 2014, I noticed severe bleeding during a bowel movement. I then proceeded to Habersham Medical Center to have my blood levels evaluated. My blood levels were okay and I was released and went back to my hotel room. During the evening, the bleeding continued and the next day my coworkers at J&J Cornelia, GA rushed me to Northeast Georgia Medical Center where I was admitted.
I was assigned room 4340 and was told I would need to have another colonoscopy of Saturday morning (May 03, 2014) if the bleeding did not cease. As you are aware, the worst part of a colonoscopy is the prep work and since I had just gone through this prep earlier in the week for the original colonoscopy, I was not looking forward to another round. Reluctantly, I began on Friday May 02, 2014 at approximately 5pm.
With the prep work and the continuation of my bleeding, my condition worsened. Blood levels and pressures were consistently monitored. IV's were administered and the use of the bathroom was a regular necessity. The use of the bathroom is very difficult when hooked up to IV's and dragging various pieces of medical equipment with me during each bathroom visit.
Derrick introduced himself to my wife (she had flown down from Cincinnati that afternoon) and me shortly after 7pm on Friday May 02, 2014 and indicated he would be my nurse and be taking care of me this evening. He mentioned, if there was anything I wanted, he would get it for me. He promised he would take care of me.
My conditioned worsened throughout the evening. Blood pressures and hemoglobin levels continued to drop and my trips to the bathroom along with the bleeding continued to increase. Life was not very fun for me that evening.
Through all of this, Derrick continued to monitor my situation. Even though my hemoglobin levels continued to drop and I continued to expel more blood during my bathroom visits, the doctor on call kept holding off on starting a blood transfusion. I was extremely concerned about this waiting and Derrick was able to convince the doctor they needed to start right away. That was the first of three transfusions that I received, and am thankful Derrick was there to push for the necessary treatment.
Derrick continued to monitor my situation during his shift as all the nurses did during my four day stay. The thing that stood out to me about Derrick was his wonderful bedside manner. This often seems like a little thing in today's fast paced society, but it means a lot to my wife and me.
Derrick told us his goal was to treat someone like he would like to be treated if he were in that position. He not only did that, but it made my night much better. Since this was my first hospital admittance and not to mention far from home, one of the most difficult activities is the continued waiting and not knowing what is going to take place next or when it will take place. Derrick continuously kept me updated on everything which was comforting not only for me, but to my wife.
One of the things I will remember the most about my stay that Friday evening was how Derrick took the time to learn about my wife and me. He asked us questions about our lives, backgrounds, goals, etc. He told us about his past in New York area for nursing and then growing up as a child in Jamaica. This was such a welcome relief to have these discussions especially with all the IV's, blood work, and frequent trips to the bathroom that were occurring. These personal conversations made my night more tolerable and made me feel like someone really cared about me as a person and not just a patient. On Saturday May 03, 2014 it was also my wife's birthday at midnight and Derrick even wished her a happy birthday. It meant a lot to her and as one can imagine, there are much better places to spend a birthday than in a hospital with your husband drinking a colon prep solution!
At a local Cincinnati Church, they have a saying outside their building that says "Small things done with great love can change the world." Derrick was an example of this statement for me last Friday evening. He has set the standard for me to judge all future caregivers and nurses.
I was released from the Northeast Georgia Hospital on Monday May 05, 2014 and returned to Cincinnati that same day. My life and health will eventually return to normal. In the future, I hope I never have to visit a hospital again, but should I, I can only hope for a nurse who provides the level of care, support and personal connection that Derrick Forrester provided to me during his shift on Friday May 02, 2014. Please thank all your nurses for their support and professionalism they provided to me during my visit and to Derrick please say "Tanks mon."