November 2023
Stephanie
Craig
,
RN
Same Day Surgery
Spanish Fork Hospital
Spanish Fork
,
UT
United States
She created a safe space for me and made me feel so cared for. She had so many encouraging words to say to me.
I went to the Spanish Fork Hospital to get surgery to remove a cyst from my ovary. It took about 3 hours for me to wake up from anesthesia. Stephanie was my nurse after I woke up. From the very beginning, she was the most supportive nurse I’ve ever had. In all my trips to the emergency room and hospitalizations, I’ve never had a nurse as kind and supportive as her. Stephanie made sure that my pain was being managed and that I was meeting my goals. She was beyond patient with me and reassured me when I felt like a burden. Stephanie made sure that I ate and kept asking if there was anything more that she could do. I never like asking for help for fear that it might be annoying or inconveniencing the other person. Stephanie did not make me feel like this. She created a safe space for me and made me feel so cared for. She had so many encouraging words to say to me. The first time I had to stand up and walk to the bathroom she kept saying things like “You can do it, you are way stronger than you think, believe me” or “You’re doing so good even if it doesn’t feel like it”. She also made sure that I understood why I felt the way I felt. If I said “My stomach really hurts,” she would explain why it was that my stomach hurt instead of just saying “It’s from surgery” like other nurses. Stephanie also made sure that I understood my post-surgery instructions and explained in detail how and when to take my medications, if feeling sick, what to look out for as far as infection, and when to call the doctor or 911. She allowed me to complain about the pain or ask questions without getting irritated or annoyed. She really did create a safe space for me in that hospital. Stephanie is the kind of nurse I aspire to be like one day. The one that truly cares and wants to help her patients with recovery.