In our podcast Konfidence with Alex Karidis, we delve into the real-life stories of our patients to understand their motivations and experiences. However, in this week’s podcast, we go behind the scenes to talk to our Surgical Nurse, Raquel Antunes, who deals with all our patients’ pre- and post-operative surgical care.
Alex: First, do you want to give us some information on your nursing background?
Raquel: My career began in cardiology, and after two years, I moved into critical care. This background in post-operative and critical care has given me a good perspective on recovery for plastic surgery patients.
I support patients with post-op instructions and give them the best advice possible to ensure a quick recovery and avoid any complications associated with surgery.
Alex: It’s comforting for our patients that you’re overqualified to handle their needs.
Raquel: I wouldn’t say I’m overqualified because it’s just an adaptation of my skills. Someone with my skill background would be able to identify complications, such as an infection, in the early stages and act quickly and precisely.
Alex: What percentage of patients understand everything you tell them about what to expect after surgery?
Raquel: It’s an excellent question because the percentage is much lower than expected. It’s positive when patients are focused on the final result, but that also means that some are often surprised by parts of the healing process.
Since starting this job, my main area of learning has been how to explain it in a way they can understand.
We try different approaches to give them the support they need. It’s about being available and making them understand that what they’re experiencing is part of the journey.
Alex: You’ve been doing this job for a year and a half and seen a very different side of medicine? How do you view it now?
Raquel: I always tell patients that our job is hard because we’re dealing with their dreams, and fulfilling those aspirations can be a very hard mountain to climb. So, it isn’t easy, but it is incredibly satisfying when we get it right.
People feel really grateful to me, but at the end of the day, I always remind them that it’s Mr Karidis’ hands!
Click the link to listen to Raquel’s podcast in full. In it, she takes us step-by-step through the patient’s surgical journey >
