Changing from Provider to Patient- one NP’s journey

I am writing a series called “Changing from Provider to Patient- one NP’s journey”. At one time or another, we have all been patients within the medical system. This is the fourth installment of my patient journey- follow me as I balance being a patient and leave my ‘provider hat’ at home.

Day 4:

It is Thursday – Hurricane Nicole is paying a visit to Florida and today Brett and I will be spending the day watching TV and eating our hurricane snacks. I was surprised when I got a call in the evening that I will be having surgery on Friday, the very next day. The scheduler from Dr. B’s office advised me that the hospital will be in touch to let me know what time to show up at this hospital. The hospital registrar calls me and let me know that I am to show up at 10am the next day to have surgery. This has been a whirlwind of events today, but in order to get on the road to recovery, I will need to get surgery completed. Now I begin to get nervous!

Day 5:

IT’S SURGERY DAY! I am supposed to be at the hospital at 10 am. I again have Brett help me shower and get dressed to head to the hospital. I really don’t have time to allow my nerves to bother me, I’m too busy wishing I could have a snack of some sort! We arrive at the main entrance of the hospital and are asked to have a seat in the lobby. One of the registrars will be calling us to get registered to have surgery. After registration, we are instructed on where to proceed to the pre-op site.

I was a bit disappointed that we were not escorted to the area by a member of the staff. I am aware how stress can affect the ability of people to process instructions. We had to travel down several hallways before we were able to find the pre-op area. At this time, there is a waiting room, but no staff member to check in with. We had to ask a passing staff member how to check in for surgery. Now I am becoming a bit more anxious. I know (from a provider standpoint) that there are several steps to check in prior to surgery. We are advised to pick up a phone located outside the waiting room and call a listed number to check in.

We then sit in the waiting room for a staff member to come collect us and take us to the pre-op area. The pre-op nurses were very sure in their care and made me feel much less anxious. Their personality and ability to use small-talk to help us relax was definitely welcomed. Luckily, I am aware of the steps to prepare for surgery, but the nurses do explain the steps to help Brett understand the what and why of each step. I am waiting to see Dr. B prior to being placed under anesthesia. A ‘time out’ has to be completed in order to correctly identify the body part being operated on.

Dr. B arrives at my bedside and puts me even more at ease with his amazing bedside manner. Jokes were told and we spoke of some common likes in music taste. I am able to meet the OR nurse and she answers questions from myself and Brett. She appears to have a great attitude and I am pleased she will be my ‘eyes and ears’ in the OR. We agree that country music will be playing as I get ready for general anesthesia.

My medical history has been reviewed multiple times and the anesthesiologist explains how my nerve block will be completed and that I will be going home after surgery with two pumps to control my post-op pain. The anesthesiologist is able to start the procedure to place the nerve block catheters. A little Versed later and …….GOODNIGHT!