Send thank you card to a nurse

psu_213, BSN, RN · Oct 18, 2016

You could sent it to:

Memorial Hosptial

Post Anesthesia Care Unit (or whichever unit it was)

Hospital Address

Then in the body of the letter, specifically say you wanted to thank nurse Sarah for her great care and her ability to keep me calm despite my stress.

Based on that, the unit would have a pretty good idea a which nurse you were thanking and it would (hopefully) get back to her.

sashasmith55 · Oct 19, 2016

If I called the hospital would they give me his last name? He has a female name so I'm afraid he won't get the card.

Also is it better to mail ail or drop off at the hospital? I live down the street.

Sour Lemon · Oct 19, 2016

If I called the hospital would they give me his last name? He has a female name so I'm afraid he won't get the card.
Also is it better to mail ail or drop off at the hospital? I live down the street.

Mail is probably better. I wouldn't call asking for his last name, either. Hospitals require LOTS of documentation, so they'd know who your nurse was on any given day at any given time.

As nurses, we are expected to keep a professional distance from our patients, so it could be awkward to have a former patient calling for personal information or stopping by with a card.

And while it's nice to get a positive comment now and then, keep in mind that we are compensated to care for you. It's our job and requires no additional thanks. :nurse:

Anonymous865 · Oct 19, 2016

Here are some options for you:

1. Call the hospital and asked the name of the manager for the unit you were in. Send the letter directly to the manager, and ask that the manager express your appreciation to the nurse. Tell them the date you were treated and the first name of the nurse. Where I've been, patients are handed a piece of paper with the name and phone number of the manager, so they can call the manager about complaints that they couldn't resolve directly. I would expect you to be able to get that info. It may even be posted on the hospital's web site.

2. Call the patient advocate at the hospital. Tell the patient advocate that you want to send a thank you note and ask how you should address it.

3. Go to the hospital and request a copy of your medical records. The nurse's name will be in your medical records.

When I have sent a letter, because I think an employee has "gone above and beyond," I usually send a letter to the person's supervisor and copy the individual and other people in management at the organization. I do this, because a good manager will put a copy of the letter in the person's personnel file and will mention the compliment in their annual performance review.

People in management spend their days dealing with complaining patients, complaining employees, complaining upper management, and complaining doctors. If they get a letter of praise, it really stands out.

Cat365 · Oct 19, 2016

Here are some options for you:
1. Call the hospital and asked the name of the manager for the unit you were in. Send the letter directly to the manager, and ask that the manager express your appreciation to the nurse. Tell them the date you were treated and the first name of the nurse. Where I've been, patients are handed a piece of paper with the name and phone number of the manager, so they can call the manager about complaints that they couldn't resolve directly. I would expect you to be able to get that info. It may even be posted on the hospital's web site.
2. Call the patient advocate at the hospital. Tell the patient advocate that you want to send a thank you note and ask how you should address it.
3. Go to the hospital and request a copy of your medical records. The nurse's name will be in your medical records.
When I have sent a letter, because I think an employee has "gone above and beyond," I usually send a letter to the person's supervisor and copy the individual and other people in management at the organization. I do this, because a good manager will put a copy of the letter in the person's personnel file and will mention the compliment in their annual performance review.
People in management spend their days dealing with complaining patients, complaining employees, complaining upper management, and complaining doctors. If they get a letter of praise, it really stands out.

I vote for #1. It's always great to get a thank you, but it's even better when your manager sees it. :)

Odds are are excellent that if you refer to your nurse by name esp if it is an uncommon one they will know who it is. If not then they can look it up.