45. Story & Lesson's from my mom's surgery

From nurse to daughter at the bedside, I share how my mom’s stroke signs were repeatedly dismissed after heart surgery and why trusting your intuition, noticing baseline changes, and speaking up can change outcomes.

Experiencing care from the patient-family side revealed the gap between clinical knowledge and lived experience. My mom’s subtle but clear deviations from baseline were minimized until persistent advocacy led to testing that confirmed a stroke. This reinforced a key truth: intuition in nursing—often a calm, neutral nudge that “something isn’t right”—is a vital clinical tool, especially amid hospital chaos where not every concern comes with neat data. Pair intuition with clear, consistent communication: ask precise clarifying questions, close the loop with the entire care team, and document and escalate when needed. Healthcare can become a telephone game; details get diluted unless we ensure the right information reaches the right people at the right time. Trust your training, honor your inner knowing, and keep advocating—even when others dismiss your concerns—because persistence can materially improve patient outcomes.

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