Barbara Stein had undergone a transcatheter aortic valve replacement (TAVR) procedure and was so moved by the care she received from Tara Jones, RN, Structural Heart Nurse Navigator, that she wrote the following tribute.
“We can all agree on the scientific marvels of today’s medicine. There have been so many ways and means developed to enhance, improve, and prolong our lives. Off the top of my head, I think of radiation and chemo-therapy to ameliorate cancers; replacement parts like hips and knees to ease our moving; organ transplants of lungs, kidneys, and hearts to make us whole again; life-extending drugs; robotic surgery; etc., etc., etc.
“But there is another modern development in the delivery of patient care that few of us, and I, never knew about until my recent experience as a hospital patient. How lucky I was to be assigned a nurse navigator. This position is a singularly important component of the art of modern medicine. It made a huge difference in the before, during, and after—as I made my way through an aortic valve replacement.
“In the weeks leading to my procedure, she explained the pre-tests required and scheduled them for me. We discussed the specialist physicians involved. She gave me literature about my procedure (TAVR) to read, and answered my questions, or referred me to others who could. She reassured me that I was in expert hands and would do well. She gave me her phone number and was available anytime I wanted or needed to talk to her. All of her outreach helped greatly to ease my anticipatory anxieties.
“On the day and night of the procedure, I was attended by many other nurses—in the operating room and ICU.
“On the following day, as I was being readied for release from the hospital, my nurse navigator paid me a very pleasant visit. She gave me some follow-up instructions, informed me she had made my next physicians’ appointments, and gave me some literature to take home. She reminded me of her phone number, with assurances of her usual availability to deal with any concerns I might have.
“Leaving the hospital for home twenty-four hours after a major medical intervention could have been unnerving, but I trusted the process and her unwavering support.
“In the week of homebound recovery, I did have a few incidents of concern. She kept me calm, dealt with them herself or had a specialist respond promptly by phone. I never lost confidence that, despite a few blips, with her help everything would be OK, and I could relax.
“In essence, this nurse navigator was my confidant, my teacher, my coordinator and my friend. Her professional and personal skills alongside the experience and expertise of my physicians rendered my medical “adventure” a successful and satisfactory one.
“Hooray for both the science and art of medicine!
“Our excellent doctors magnificently represent today’s science of medicine. However, with little doubt, my experience taught me that the nurse navigator represents its art!”