December 2022
Katelyn A
Freeman
,
RN
ED
CHI St. Vincent Hospital
Hot Springs
,
AR
United States
Katelyn kept a smile on her face and a positive tone which kept my and my husband’s anxiety at bay for the most part.
In October 2022, I brought my husband into the ED for what we thought might be chest pain. He woke up complaining of chest pressure, maybe a gas bubble, and sleeping wrong because his neck and jaw were hurting. Something told me that he needed to be seen quickly so we came into the ED on that early Sunday morning. As I have told everyone I am not a cardiac nurse. I really was not thinking that it was going to be anything. We were quickly assessed in triage and taken back to an ED room. Katelyn came in, introduced herself, and explained everything that she was going to do. Always smiling and very comforting. She started his IV, drew blood, and got him hooked up. Side note, my husband is a big burly guy, kind of looks intimidating but really, he’s the best guy you will ever meet. Katelyn laughed and joked with him, taking his mind off his pain and helping ease the anxiety of waiting to see what lab results show. After a little while the doctor came in with “the news” that my husband was actively having a heart attack, it’s true when they say everything else anyone is saying becomes mumbled and all you can hear is heart attack. My big strong husband broke down, sobbing. I didn’t really know what to do, I held his hand and we cried. Katelyn was there to reassure us that everything was going to be ok and explained everything that was happening because by now there was a room full of nurses, techs, etc. getting him prepped and ready for the Cath lab. Katelyn kept a smile on her face and a positive tone which kept my and my husband’s anxiety at bay for the most part. She kept us informed, reassured us, and the mood lighthearted, which was exactly what we needed. I just wanted her to know how much she touched our lives that day and what an amazing nurse she is!