December 2020
3 West
Surgery
Vidant Medical Center
Karen James, Glenda Flemmings, BSN, RN, PCCN, RNBC-MED, Michelle Lor, Kayla Upchurch, Samantha Williams, BSN, RN, Jacqualine "Jax" Tyson, BSN, RN, Clara Salazar, BSN, RN, Luanne Martin, Meredith Edwards, BSN, RN, RNBC-MED, Erica Blackstock, Carol Munday, BSN, RN, RNBC-MED, Jennifer Clayton, Telicia Keys, BSN, RN, PCCN, RNBC-MED, Nicholas Simpson, Maria Borja, BSN, RN, Sonya Wynn, BSN, RN, RNBC-MED, Keela Blango, MSN, RN, RNBC-MED, Margaret Anderson, Sarita Burnett, Taylor Cook, Lisa Satterfield, Rita Shepard Brown, Aretha Chamberlain, Chintal Williams, Matthew Holden, Pearl Yarrell, Nortasha Swain, Crystal Silva, Michelle Marshall, Stacy Smaw, Barbara Sutton, Jamie Gautier, MSN, RN, NE-BC, RNBC-MED, Dawn Tetterton, MSN, RN, RNBC-MED, Michelle Ball, MSN, RN, CCRN-K, Jennifer Jones, BSN, RN
Many of the 3 West Surgery team members often provided her with Starbucks coffee or money to get coffee if they were going downstairs to get themselves some too.
I wanted to take a moment to nominate the team members on 3 West Surgery for the Team DAISY Award. I am so proud of this team and the culture they have established on our unit of 'family, kindness, and compassion' and one recent example of this requires sharing and recognition.
Recently our unit admitted a 16-year-old girl who had attempted suicide. This was unfortunately not her first attempt, but sadly one of many, many attempts to take her life. Upon arrival, aside from her obvious injuries, we noted that she had a terrible case of head lice, which took multiple treatments to resolve.
During this time, she was confined to her room and not allowed to walk outside or in the hallways; you can imagine for a teen this was challenging! She also required a sitter to remain at the bedside during her stay to ensure her safety. As we got to know her better, we learned her story which included the fact that she had been in and out of foster care for much of her young life. She had recently learned that her current foster family would not be taking her back following her hospitalization and that she would likely be placed 'back in the system'. Her admission and hospital stay lengthened and became more complex as the flu and COVID-19 pandemic began and we struggled to find a safe placement option for her.
There were a few times when a bed on another unit became available, but my team advocated for this patient sharing that they had established a bond with her and were fearful transferring her would not be good for her mentally. Many of my team members came to know her and her story and developed a special bond with her.
One day, this patient was walking with the ANM in the hallway and they were discussing coffee. The patient shared that since her arrival, she had not had a really, good cup of coffee and would kill for a Starbucks. The ANM gave her $5 and told her to go get a good cup of coffee. Later that day the ANM was in the cafeteria and had stopped at a table to speak to her mother who was here visiting family. The patient walked up to the ANM and thanked her profusely for the good coffee, which she was holding in her hands with the biggest smile on her face! When she left the cafeteria, the ANM's mother asked, "What was that all about?" The ANM simply said that sometimes when folks are going through a tough time, a good cup of coffee can make the biggest difference.
At that moment, her mother pulled out $20 from her pocket and insisted that the ANM give it to the patient so that she could have good coffee for the rest of the week. Many of the 3 West Surgery team members often provided her with Starbucks coffee or money to get coffee if they were going downstairs to get themselves some too.
Another nurse learned that this patient did not have any of her own clothes aside from what she came in wearing. As the temperature changed outside, this patient complained of being cold at times, and a neighboring family allowed this patient to borrow one of their coats. The nurse found out about this and went to the store and purchased several jackets for this patient so that she could have her own- (no pink mind you- we learned she didn't like pink!). This same nurse also gave this patient $20 so that she could go to the gift shop and buy magazines, books, and candy.
As spring approached, several of the 3 West Surgery team purchased candy, chocolate bunnies, coloring books, crayons, and games. It was apparent that we all often thought of her, even when we were not at work, and brought her things. This patient befriended a neighboring family and at shift change each night this patient and the neighboring family could be found in our lobby playing cards and never failing to ask if they could 'deal in' any of our team members for a round.
As the COVID-19 pandemic began, a bed within the community finally opened up and we were able to safely transfer her out of the hospital. On her discharge day, she came to my office and asked to speak with me. She told me to ensure I thanked everyone for being so kind to her and for all the little things that they did that meant so much to her, especially the coffee and the jackets when she didn't have anything of her own!
***
Speaking of COVID.... The 3 West Surgery team has been phenomenal in the face of COVID-19 pandemic. In mid-March, we learned our unit would be temporarily closed to make room for potential mothers and children who may have Coronavirus. Though the team was worried about this change, not knowing where they would be working each day, not knowing when they would see their 3 West Surgery family again, they showed up in full force, ready to do whatever it takes to take care of eastern NC.
Our nurses, managers, secretaries, and nurse assistants all were displaced to other units throughout the hospital, where they had to quickly learn a different patient population, a different layout, new faces, new doctors, etc. They stepped up and served as COVID screeners, they stepped up and served as "dofficers", they stepped up to every challenge they were presented. At the time of this nomination, the unit was still temporarily closed, I could not be prouder of the team. They took lemons and made the sweetest lemonade possible. I am so fortunate to call this amazing team my family. I believe they are highly deserving of this coveted, esteemed recognition.
Recently our unit admitted a 16-year-old girl who had attempted suicide. This was unfortunately not her first attempt, but sadly one of many, many attempts to take her life. Upon arrival, aside from her obvious injuries, we noted that she had a terrible case of head lice, which took multiple treatments to resolve.
During this time, she was confined to her room and not allowed to walk outside or in the hallways; you can imagine for a teen this was challenging! She also required a sitter to remain at the bedside during her stay to ensure her safety. As we got to know her better, we learned her story which included the fact that she had been in and out of foster care for much of her young life. She had recently learned that her current foster family would not be taking her back following her hospitalization and that she would likely be placed 'back in the system'. Her admission and hospital stay lengthened and became more complex as the flu and COVID-19 pandemic began and we struggled to find a safe placement option for her.
There were a few times when a bed on another unit became available, but my team advocated for this patient sharing that they had established a bond with her and were fearful transferring her would not be good for her mentally. Many of my team members came to know her and her story and developed a special bond with her.
One day, this patient was walking with the ANM in the hallway and they were discussing coffee. The patient shared that since her arrival, she had not had a really, good cup of coffee and would kill for a Starbucks. The ANM gave her $5 and told her to go get a good cup of coffee. Later that day the ANM was in the cafeteria and had stopped at a table to speak to her mother who was here visiting family. The patient walked up to the ANM and thanked her profusely for the good coffee, which she was holding in her hands with the biggest smile on her face! When she left the cafeteria, the ANM's mother asked, "What was that all about?" The ANM simply said that sometimes when folks are going through a tough time, a good cup of coffee can make the biggest difference.
At that moment, her mother pulled out $20 from her pocket and insisted that the ANM give it to the patient so that she could have good coffee for the rest of the week. Many of the 3 West Surgery team members often provided her with Starbucks coffee or money to get coffee if they were going downstairs to get themselves some too.
Another nurse learned that this patient did not have any of her own clothes aside from what she came in wearing. As the temperature changed outside, this patient complained of being cold at times, and a neighboring family allowed this patient to borrow one of their coats. The nurse found out about this and went to the store and purchased several jackets for this patient so that she could have her own- (no pink mind you- we learned she didn't like pink!). This same nurse also gave this patient $20 so that she could go to the gift shop and buy magazines, books, and candy.
As spring approached, several of the 3 West Surgery team purchased candy, chocolate bunnies, coloring books, crayons, and games. It was apparent that we all often thought of her, even when we were not at work, and brought her things. This patient befriended a neighboring family and at shift change each night this patient and the neighboring family could be found in our lobby playing cards and never failing to ask if they could 'deal in' any of our team members for a round.
As the COVID-19 pandemic began, a bed within the community finally opened up and we were able to safely transfer her out of the hospital. On her discharge day, she came to my office and asked to speak with me. She told me to ensure I thanked everyone for being so kind to her and for all the little things that they did that meant so much to her, especially the coffee and the jackets when she didn't have anything of her own!
***
Speaking of COVID.... The 3 West Surgery team has been phenomenal in the face of COVID-19 pandemic. In mid-March, we learned our unit would be temporarily closed to make room for potential mothers and children who may have Coronavirus. Though the team was worried about this change, not knowing where they would be working each day, not knowing when they would see their 3 West Surgery family again, they showed up in full force, ready to do whatever it takes to take care of eastern NC.
Our nurses, managers, secretaries, and nurse assistants all were displaced to other units throughout the hospital, where they had to quickly learn a different patient population, a different layout, new faces, new doctors, etc. They stepped up and served as COVID screeners, they stepped up and served as "dofficers", they stepped up to every challenge they were presented. At the time of this nomination, the unit was still temporarily closed, I could not be prouder of the team. They took lemons and made the sweetest lemonade possible. I am so fortunate to call this amazing team my family. I believe they are highly deserving of this coveted, esteemed recognition.