Inspiring Stories
Nurse Provides Calm in the Storm
“I was absolutely blown away by the care that I received.”
In the 30th week of a high-risk pregnancy, in the hospital was the last place Amber Schechinger wanted to be. Usually more comfortable closer to home, she found herself needing to be admitted to Methodist Women’s Hospital.
“For the most part, I have been able to doctor close to home,” Amber wrote in a recent letter to the hospital. “My husband and I love our small town hospital and medical staff. Everyone knows you by name and takes a vested interest in your care. Imagine our surprise to receive similar care in a hospital of a much larger scale.”
Treating patients like family
Miriah Jansonius, BSN, RN, a nurse in the hospital’s high risk OB unit, was one of the first to greet Amber.
“I just treat patients and families how I would like to be treated,” Miriah said.
“She had an incredibly calming, confident presence,” Amber wrote. “She knew what she was doing and handled the whirlwind of activity with a routine ease. That alone made me feel more comfortable.”
Encouragement and faith
Day after day, Miriah shares her calm confidence with those she cares for. She knows that worry comes with every hospital stay.
“A lot of times they are away from their families,” Miriah said. “They have lots of worries such as how they are going to pay their bills, how much maternity leave they will have left, and who is taking care of their kids. I just try to provide a lot of reassurance. I bring up faith... not necessarily God, but just faith that everything is going to be OK.”
“When everyone around you seems rushed and stressed it adds to your stress level as a patient. Miriah gave me the impression that everything was going to be fine and that our doctors and nurses had things well in hand right from the get go.”
Amber Vonnahme
Methodist Women's Hospital patient
Award-winning care
For the excellent care she delivered to Amber and gives to other high-risk moms every day, Miriah was honored with the DAISY Award for Methodist Hospital and Methodist Women’s Hospital. The DAISY Award is a nationwide program that rewards and celebrates extraordinary skill and compassionate care given by nurses every day. Nurses can be nominated by anyone, including patients, family members, physicians, supervisors or peers.
“Miriah is a prime example of going above and beyond to make sure I had an excellent patient experience,” Amber said. “There's a certain amount of empathy and compassion that can't be taught and she exemplifies those qualities. She is knowledgeable, caring and confident. But more than that she brings a human aspect to her profession. You truly are lucky to have her on your staff and I feel incredibly lucky to have had her care while staying at your facility.”
To nominate a nurse at Methodist Hospital or Methodist Women’s Hospital, visit bestcare.org/daisy.
