30 Days of PH: PH Nurse

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by Jen Cueva |

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Day 7 of 30 Days of PH⁣⠀ ⁣Topic: PH Nurse⁣⠀ @tracey1221 shares what it’s like working with PH patients. ⁣⠀ ⁣⠀ I have been a heart failure nurse for 16 years. I was first exposed to pulmonary hypertension (PH), patients when I moved to Houston. In 2017 I moved to work at Houston Methodist DeBakey Cardiology. Before this job, I wasn’t exposed to the disease. I heard of it, but nothing more.⠀ ⁣⠀ While working with these patients, I realize that they are some of the most complicated and sickest patients. Often they travel hundreds of miles to get evaluated for treatment. It is a serious condition that will impact their lives tremendously. The symptoms are real and they will need a support system that will help them get through the lifestyle changes that they will have to make. These patients have to try several different regimens before they start to feel better. They are tired, short of breath, and most need oxygen just to do simple tasks. ⁣⠀ ⁣⠀ PH patients have taught me that being able to breathe and do simple activities of daily living should not be taken for granted. Most patients have needed to rearrange and change the way they live. They have had to quit jobs that they loved just to survive. Most of the patients that I see always have smiles on their faces and a sense of positivity, trusting their medical team. They are grateful for the healthcare team that is responsible for their care while waiting for their new set of lungs if a candidate. ⁣⠀ ⁣⠀ Most of the patients are compliant with their medication regimen and listen to what the doctor tells them because they want a positive outcome. Being in the healthcare industry, I’ve worked with a lot of sick patients. But, pulmonary hypertension has opened my eyes to a disease that most people are unaware of and much research is still needed.⁣⠀ ⁣⠀ Life is something that most people take for granted while working in the healthcare field. I’ve had to educate about the importance of incorporating a healthy lifestyle for the success of the patient’s disease process. Working with PH has been the most rewarding job I’ve had. I’ve had some success stories and I’ve had to mourn some losses. ⁣⠀ ⁣⠀ ⁣#30daysofPH ⠀ ⁣

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About the Author

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Jen Cueva Jen Cueva lives in San Diego, California, with her husband and daughter. Jen worked in nursing before the script changed upon her diagnosis of pulmonary hypertension (PH), group 1, in 2005. Advocacy has been essential to her life. Her passion is to instill hope and remind others in the PH community that they are not alone. To do this, she serves as a forum moderator for Pulmonary Hypertension News and in her weekly column she delves into the roller coaster of emotions that accompany PH. It is powerful and meaningful to her to have this opportunity to play a role in helping others become more informed and educated so they are more empowered in their journey. Together, we PHight stronger!

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30DaysofPH, awareness, PHNurse

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