The trouble began - and ended - when she was given the wrong type of blood. She died later that afternoon from a violent transfusion reaction, while her family and I waited in the waiting room.

Soon after I entered nursing a young mother I had been working with and befriended went for a C-Section. The day before her surgery we eagerly anticipated the birth of her third little girl. We laughed and giggled as we talked about meeting her beautiful new daughter in the morning, however, that was to be. During the surgery she received too much anesthesia and was left-brain dead three day later her family made the choice to remove her from life support.

She left behind two small children, a newborn and a husband to grieve her for the rest of their lives. My heart still breaks every time I think of her.

Over the years I have witnessed the results of hundreds of medical errors. My response has to educate my patients about their diseases and the kind of care suggested by best practice standards and recommended in the national guidelines.

I taught and still do teach my patients how to ask their doctors questions and to investigate the answers they are given so that they - the patients themselves - can actively participate in making healthcare decisions that are safe and meet their unique needs.

And then one day in 2007 I found myself caring for a patient who came into the hospital for what was supposed to be a simple surgery and the expectation of being discharged in within two days. When I met him three months later he lay in a hospital bed unable walk, talk, move or breathe on his own, because he had fallen victim to multiple medical errors.

At that point I just couldn't take what I was seeing anymore. I felt like screaming and crying all at once. I had to do something to help prevent the tragedy of medical error from happening to as many people as I could. I went home that night and began writing what is now known as, What Did The Doctor Just Say?

I hope this book helps to prevent thousands and thousands of medical errors; that would make me so happy. However, if my only accomplishment is to help you and your loved ones to be safer in the healthcare system I will consider this book a huge success. I sincerely hope; each of you is safe in the healthcare system and that you get the care you need, want and deserve to have.

* If you would like me to consult in matters of your care or the care of a loved one; or

If you would like me to speak at your next event, I speak on

* Professional caring as a strategy to reduce medical errors

* Patient Empowerment

* Nursings role in medical error prevention

* Natural therapies (holistic nursing), as a way to care for patients and to reduce medical errors

* Email your requests to [email protected] with the date and time you would like to schedule

your presentation and I will return your email in a timely manner.

www.WhatDidTheDoctorJustSay.blogspot.com

www.Whatdidthedoctorjustsay.com

What Did the Doctor Just Say? on Facebook

Education:

• Diploma of Nursing: Muhlenberg Hospital School of Nursing, Plainfield, New Jersey
• Associate Degree in Science: Union County College, Cranford, New Jersey
• Bachelors of Science in Nursing: Kean University, Union New Jersey
• Masters of Arts: Clinical Nurse Specialist, New York University, New York, New York
• Adult Nurse Practitioner: New York University, New York, New York
• Emotional Freedom Therapist: American Healthcare Institute

Certifications and Specialty Trainings

• Emotional Freedom Therapist: American Healthcare Institute
• Legal Nurse Consultant: Wagner College, Staten Island, New York
• End-of -Life Care: End of Life Care Nursing Consortium
• Massage Therapy
• Reiki
• Meditation