Comfort in Time of Need
Whitney describes her pregnancy as run-of-the mill normal until 34 weeks when her water broke unexpectedly. After checking into The University of Tennessee Medical Center and consulting with high-risk specialists, she went on bed rest for four days. Whitney describes bed rest as “losing a sense of control and anxiety ridden.” She says the nurses and staff did a lot to help her feel comfortable and calm during that scary time.
“The staff goes above and beyond. They do more than just give medicine and check vitals all day. They see what they can do to make you feel comfortable. They know you’re out of your element. You’re not at home, so they try to go that next step and pay close attention to you and help you through any stressful moments.”
Expertise of Staff
Whitney is a nurse at UT Medical Center, so she knows the doctors and nurses there are at the top of their field. She says that experiencing care from the patient side is a totally different experience, but she took comfort in knowing first-hand the high standard of care the medical center staff sets for itself.
Whitney’s labor was a surprise, and she says she wasn’t mentally prepared for a premature delivery. So she appreciated the honest and upfront conversations she had with her physicians and nurses, which helped her set expectations for the specialized care her baby would need.
“Your emotions hit you that your son is not in the room with you. And the nurse came over and gave me a big hug and assured me that he’s going to be fine. You’re going to be fine. She helped comfort me that night. Knowing that the best nurses in Knoxville were going to be the ones taking care of him gave me comfort that I could go back to my room and sleep.”