I am very pleased to write this story to share the outstanding experience we had due to the compassionate care provided to my daughter while she was an inpatient here at Saint Elizabeth. I brought my daughter to the hospital Emergency Department with a temp of 105 degrees with riggers. The staff in the ED was very responsive to our needs. She was diagnosed with a urinary tract infection and was given a prescription. They had also drawn blood cultures due to the high temperature. The next morning, I received a call from the doctor. He had called my daughter who was so weak she couldn't understand what he was telling her and asked that he call me. He did so and explained that the cultures had come back with sepsis. She needed to be admitted but was to come back to the ED for a further work-up.
When she got to the floor she was admitted to medical on 5th. This was a holiday and staffing was short as it usually is on holidays. We were greeted by a very kind, welcoming face. Marie Johnson is part of the float pool, she welcomed us and made my daughter feel confident she was going to take good care of her. A was emotional due not only to feeling terrible, but she was also terrified at the diagnosis. A is going through a very difficult divorce and this was her holiday to have the kids. All the fun plans were not going to happen. Marie reassured A she would do everything possible to get her as comfortable as possible and out of the hospital as soon as possible. Marie shared that she too was divorced and had twins who were three. Marie never once made A feel as though she was too busy or didn't have enough time to spend with her. When she was in the room her attention was totally focused on A and her care. She explained every medicine, what she was doing and why and when she would return to check on her. She welcomed questions and concerns. She could tell when A's temperature was going up and would be proactive at giving appropriate medications for nausea and pain. A was blessed to have Marie as her nurse the following day too. Marie made A feel at ease and did a great job at giving A high quality of care. If there were 100 Marie Johnsons caring for the patients at Saint Elizabeth I am sure the hospital would be great. I am sure when Marie calls physicians about patients or when they see her on the floor caring for their patients they know the patients are getting the best care possible.
Marie Johnson is an Extraordinary Nurse on many levels. I feel confident that Marie makes all her patients feel this high-quality care and compassion that can't be taught but comes naturally for some. Marie is one of those nurses you feel blessed to have had care for you.