"Lovely 1st Year Student Nurse"

I recently had a ECG done in Carden Place CTAC (Carden Medical Practice). I’m naturally a very anxious person and I find myself getting very anxious in medical settings (even though I work in one!) and am very prone to panic attacks. 

I was greeted by Dawn the HCSW doing my bloods & ECG and her student (sorry I didn’t catch your name, anxiety hit me! I believe it may have started with an I?) They both instantly made me feel really at ease talking to me and had the loveliest warm personalities. I shared with them that I get very anxious and they talked to me the entire time during my appointment which I found really reassuring - the student nurse even picked up on an interest of mine due to the T-shirt I was wearing and genuinely her talking about this to me prevented me from having a panic attack. She checked in with me on how I was doing multiple times which I really appreciated! 

As a healthcare student myself I was very happy to have a student present, and to have her learn during the ECG - both herself and Dawn ensured that my dignity was maintained throughout, even able to work around a sports bra which was a really nice touch that I wouldn’t have thought twice about. I struggled with my anxiety during the testing but they both went out of their way to ensure that I was able to keep calm throughout the testing.

This was honestly one of the best handled appointments I have ever had where my anxiety was acknowledged and worked around, and I have no doubt that that first year student will be an absolutely excellent nurse (you have the bedside manner down!), and Dawn appears to be an outstanding teacher to her students.

Thank you for making an appointment I was dreading a much calmer process, I appreciate it so much!