I had a breast biopsy done recently. Aside from having my wisdom teeth removed, I've never had a surgical procedure before and I was fairly nervous that day. Karen really cared for me after everything was said and done. When I woke up enough to know where I was, she was extremely attentive. I was probably talking gibberish and rambling on about whatever (because I talk a lot when I'm nervous) and she made me feel so comfortable. There wasn't anything that I particularly remember about our conversations, probably because of anesthesia, but I do remember how she made me feel. She felt like a friend who was visiting me and not someone performing a task or completing a checklist. She clearly loves her job and truly cares about the people who cross her path and that was evident in the way she interacted with me and my family. It's a nurse's job to care about the health of the patient, but Karen made it her job to care about me as a person.
Karen wheeled me and walked with my family all the way down to the exit doors and out into the snow, made sure I didn't slip on the ice and got safely into the car. Maybe that's protocol, but it really stood out to me how attentive and caring she was. I didn't have a life-threatening condition that day, and I'm even happier to report that my results came back benign, but for those patients who are facing more serious circumstances, I hope they meet Karen. If only for an hour or two in the recovery room, she really brings a sense of peace and comfort to an experience that can be quite frightening.
Thank you, Karen. I hope this message reaches you and brings a smile to your face. You're great at what you do and you deserve to be recognized for it. I'll never forget you!