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.<\/p>\n
\u201cWe can all agree on the scientific marvels of today\u2019s 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.<\/p>\n
\u201cBut 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. <\/em>This position is a singularly important component of the art of modern medicine. It made a huge difference in the before, during, and after\u2014as I made my way through an aortic valve replacement.<\/p>\n \u201cIn 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.<\/p>\n \u201cOn the day and night of the procedure, I was attended by many other nurses\u2014in the operating room and ICU.<\/p>\n \u201cOn 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\u2019 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.<\/p>\n \u201cLeaving 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.<\/p>\n \u201cIn 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.<\/p>\n \u201cIn 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 \u201cadventure\u201d a successful and satisfactory one.<\/p>\n \u201cHooray for both the science and art of medicine!<\/p>\n \u201cOur excellent doctors magnificently represent today\u2019s science of medicine. However, with little doubt, my experience taught me that the nurse navigator represents its art!\u201d<\/p>\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"