I cannot say enough good things about the nursing staff on the 5th floor of the neuroscience surgery center. Jessica, who worked most closely with me before and after my surgery was especially extraordinary. You have a phenomenal team. I was in the hospital for a fairly routine nasal surgery. Much of what Jessica did during the course of my time in the hospital (both pre-op and recovery) I'm sure, to her, was ordinary. But, as a patient without much experience with surgery, her patience, kindness, comfort, and care were magical.
Somehow, Jessica figured out in a matter of minutes how I think and take in information, and took extra time to proactively talk through what was happening, why it was happening, and what things meant in non-medical terms. She spent time with my wife, helping her feel comfortable with what was going on. I came to especially appreciate this during the post-operation recovery. While the surgery went well, there was a lot more post-operative bleeding than expected. And, while it initially looked like I'd be heading out of the hospital shortly after surgery (I'm young, in good health, and the surgery by all accounts went well), I ended up staying for several hours, with the nurses and doctors trying to figure out how to stop the steady leak of blood from my nose. Jessica intuited, without my saying anything, how uncomfortable the sight of my own blood made me, and made a point to keep the area clean. She figured out that I was lying about not being in any pain, and convinced me to take a painkiller (the right decision). She realized I hadn't eaten anything and fed me a continual dose of applesauce to get my blood sugar up. Most importantly, she took the time to explain what was happening and what she'd seen before. She acknowledged and didn't try to hide, that the amount of blood was unusual. But then talked through the three options she saw the doctors most often used in these cases. She was unfailingly positive and optimistic, but also clear and fact-based. After the physician left, she recognized that he'd given his explanation of what to do quickly and that my wife and I hadn't been able to capture it all. So, she patiently explained it again and made sure my wife was comfortable with the notes she took.
She stayed well after her shift to keep answering questions and to make sure things were on a good trajectory and that I felt good. When she did leave and hand me off to another nurse (who was also fabulous), she took the time to make sure I was comfortable and that all the relevant information transitioned. I'm sure much of this reads like, "of course, this is her job." But, as a patient, the way Jessica, and the whole nursing team, worked made such a difference in my day. Even though the surgery was routine (and even though I should be too old to be bothered by things like blood or a bit of pain), they made a stressful experience an OK one. I doubt my words are able to fully capture the impact their work had. But, I can say, the care and attention Jessica (and her colleagues) paid to me personally, while, I am sure, handling a myriad of other responsibilities, meant the world. Thank you, Jessica! And, thank you to everyone at Jefferson for supporting your nurses.