Grace Jones
October 2013
Grace
Jones
,
RN
Cardiothoracic ICU
University of Washington Medical Center
Seattle
,
WA
United States

 

 

 

Without a doubt, it can be said that Grace consistently puts her patients first. While providing thorough, competent medical care she also does a great job of maintaining a big-picture perspective of patient needs. Grace has shown an amazing gift for connecting with families and patients, helping them to feel valued and at-ease. She is able to form bonds with her patients that sometimes extend beyond discharge. One way she accomplishes this by always thinking about her patients and how she can help them. She brings them in stress balls from home, she researchers their conditions to help suggest treatments and she tirelessly tries to advocate for her patients and she is also not afraid to have difficult discussions with patients or providers. These patients are eager to check back and let her know how they are progressing!

Another way that Grace helps her patients is by doing everything in her power to be quiet. Grace only works on the night shift and is ever aware of the need for a quiet environment. She wears special shoes, she does her best to cluster her care and she tries her hardest to allow her patients to get the most amount of uninterrupted rest possible, even if that means shoeing others away from her patients door.

Recently, Grace primaried a patient for over 6 months. Her commitment never wavered even though when she originally started being is primary he was unable to talk and she had never really "met" him. Throughout his long stay she was his biggest supporter and one of his most consistent care takers and he credited his improvement to her efforts. Not only did Grace know his pathophysiology and history better than most everyone, she provided a level of emotional support that is unparalleled.

On the unit, Grace continually looks for ways to improve the safety and efficiency of the care that we provide. She is a strong team-player and is always willing to jump in to help out her fellow RNs to whatever it takes to get the job done! Just last week she floated to another ICU and cared for an incredibly ill patient and ended up giving him 26 PRBCs in one night in addition to various other products. Should the occasion ever arise, we should all be so lucky to have a nurse like Grace! She is equally appreciated by her coworkers for her "step up and help" attitude. She is a good example of a nurse dedicated to the art and science of nursing. We should all aspire to this level of dedication.