A routine surgery prep became a life-saving moment for visitor who wasn’t scheduled for care

When nurse Amy Lee was preparing a patient for surgery in the preoperative space at UCHealth Highlands Ranch Hospital, something unexpected happened. A family member sitting nearby approached Lee and shared that they had been feeling some unusual pain.

“The family member told me they had been experiencing chest pain all morning,” Lee said. “I’ve been a nurse for over 37 years, working on Med, Surg and Tele units, so I felt comfortable sharing information about the sources of chest pain, with some being very serious.”

Instead of focusing only on the patient, Lee took a moment to check on the family member. She took their vitals and asked a few questions to better understand how they were feeling and what was going on.

What she learned worried her.

“While their blood pressure was stable, the symptoms they described still concerned me,” Lee said.

Lee didn’t brush them aside.

“I instructed the family member to seek medical attention at an emergency department right away and let their doctor know as well.”

She emphasized the importance of getting these signs checked out and instructed the family member to call their doctor and visit an emergency department for further evaluation. They were hesitant to leave their family member going into surgery, but the patient was supportive.

They left the preoperative bay to seek their own medical attention, and that decision made all the difference.

Later that day, Lee brought a blanket to the patient who was sitting in the postoperative space after their surgery. They shared with Lee that their family member had gone to the emergency department, and the doctors found that they had a life-threatening condition called pulmonary embolism.

“We are all so busy and prioritizing the moment in preoperative, but it’s just what we do as nurses,” said Lee. “To take that moment to pause, listen, care and help whoever comes to our hospital can make a world of a difference.”

In the preoperative space, time is tight, and the focus is usually on the patient; however, Lee’s quick thinking and empathetic actions ensured the visiting family member received the care they needed right away.

Both the patient and the family member were deeply thankful to Lee for speaking up.

Nurse manager Angeline Stanley praised Lee in a recent Celebrating You nomination for her persistence and dedication to look out for anyone who enters her care space.

“Amy took the few minutes to go above and beyond, which both the family member and the original patient were extremely grateful for, and they will not hesitate to return to our facility for future care.”