Caitlin Lawrence
December 2014
Caitlin
Lawrence
,
BSN, RN, OCN
Oncology
Vidant Medical Center
Greenville
,
NC
United States

 

 

 

Recently while in charge, there were 4 patients in pre-code situations all at the same time. We have a very young staff and while rounding on patients, Caitlin picked up on a situation that the patient's nurse had not recognized. The patient in the next room was also deteriorating. Both code carts were down that hall, but on another hall a patient was seizing and another was slowly becoming unresponsive and the family was trying to make a decision about code status. Caitlin contacted another unit, realizing that if any of the other patients coded, they would not have a code cart. She then delegated someone to go to that unit and get the code cart. At the end of it all, Caitlin had coordinated the intubation and transfer of the first patient, the stabilization of the second patient with GI bleed for transport to VIR, arranged for the third patient to be transferred to ICE, and managed the physician discussion with the fourth patient's family for DNR status.

Caitlin remained calm and compassionate toward each situation. She reassured the nurses whose patients were involved. She was able to reassure anxious family members, and created an environment of excellence in the clinical care that she provided. She is truly a role model for staff and others in her care of the oncology patients and families. She maintains a calm and caring presence throughout even the most stressful situations. She demonstrates excellence every day, but that day she showed us what compassionate care was all about.