April 2013
Janet
Woodyard
,
RN
PACU
Palmetto Health
Columbia
,
SC
United States
Janet's skill and especially her compassionate care exemplify the kind of nurse that our patients, their families, and our staff recognize as an outstanding role model. Please allow me to provide more detail and context for nominating Janet and why I think she is so special.
As you might imagine for any parent, but especially a mother, turning your precious child over to a nurse to take him to surgery is no easy task. To say the least, any parent is anxious in that moment. I brought my 6 year old son in for surgery but unfortunately my wife could not be here. The night before his surgery she came down with a nasty GI bug and could not go far from a restroom. In addition, we were concerned she might be contagious and being near him prior to surgery with the risk of him catching it could be devastating. He is our youngest and a special needs child who already is immune-compromised so the thought of him getting a nasty GI bug or possibly the flu combined with surgery could actually be life threatening for him. So, my wife could not be present for the surgery.
Needless to say, I am not sure which was worse the GI symptoms or the pain and suffering she felt from not being able to hold and kiss her precious boy either prior to or post operatively. Well, when the surgery was completed and I went back to recovery to see him, Janet and Heidi were caring for him and as Janet talked with me, somewhere along the way I mentioned that my wife could not make it because she had the GI bug. A few minutes later she asked me what my wife's cell phone number was, which at the time I thought was strange because I was right there. She then said "I think I am going to give your wife a call and let her know everything is ok". She said, I know you probably have called her but trust me, sometimes a call from the nurse to make sure she gets all her questions answered, etc. is good.
She then called me wife and answered all of her questions by phone, which was just what my wife needed. (After all, I am NOT a nurse, nor am I a mom! Both of which Janet is!) This simple act of kindness meant the world to me and to my wife. The word that came to mind then and has lingered with me since is "anticipation". She was kind, compassionate, professional, and selfless but on top of all that she ANTICIPATED what was needed in that moment and she did it. I like to think that she thought in her mind, "what would a mom want right now and how could I fill that void"?
At Palmetto Health, we are embarking on the next phase of our journey that connects to our vision; to be remembered by each patient as providing the care and compassion we want for our families and ourselves. And in doing so, we are looking at how we create experiences for our patients that are memorable. In any one moment, we have the opportunity to share our vision and to make it personal..and to anticipate what might be needed in the moment..well, Janet Woodyard did that.
As you might imagine for any parent, but especially a mother, turning your precious child over to a nurse to take him to surgery is no easy task. To say the least, any parent is anxious in that moment. I brought my 6 year old son in for surgery but unfortunately my wife could not be here. The night before his surgery she came down with a nasty GI bug and could not go far from a restroom. In addition, we were concerned she might be contagious and being near him prior to surgery with the risk of him catching it could be devastating. He is our youngest and a special needs child who already is immune-compromised so the thought of him getting a nasty GI bug or possibly the flu combined with surgery could actually be life threatening for him. So, my wife could not be present for the surgery.
Needless to say, I am not sure which was worse the GI symptoms or the pain and suffering she felt from not being able to hold and kiss her precious boy either prior to or post operatively. Well, when the surgery was completed and I went back to recovery to see him, Janet and Heidi were caring for him and as Janet talked with me, somewhere along the way I mentioned that my wife could not make it because she had the GI bug. A few minutes later she asked me what my wife's cell phone number was, which at the time I thought was strange because I was right there. She then said "I think I am going to give your wife a call and let her know everything is ok". She said, I know you probably have called her but trust me, sometimes a call from the nurse to make sure she gets all her questions answered, etc. is good.
She then called me wife and answered all of her questions by phone, which was just what my wife needed. (After all, I am NOT a nurse, nor am I a mom! Both of which Janet is!) This simple act of kindness meant the world to me and to my wife. The word that came to mind then and has lingered with me since is "anticipation". She was kind, compassionate, professional, and selfless but on top of all that she ANTICIPATED what was needed in that moment and she did it. I like to think that she thought in her mind, "what would a mom want right now and how could I fill that void"?
At Palmetto Health, we are embarking on the next phase of our journey that connects to our vision; to be remembered by each patient as providing the care and compassion we want for our families and ourselves. And in doing so, we are looking at how we create experiences for our patients that are memorable. In any one moment, we have the opportunity to share our vision and to make it personal..and to anticipate what might be needed in the moment..well, Janet Woodyard did that.