October 2013
Lisa
Benton
,
RN
Cardiac ICU
UPMC Presbyterian
Pittsburgh
,
PA
United States

 

 

 

Lisa Benton CCU received a patient from the cath lab s/p STEMI. During the course of initial assessment the nurse learned her patient was diagnosed with a terminal illness and given approximately 9 months to live. She has been battling breast cancer in her 90s. During skin assessment the patient commented on how much she would love to have a pedicure, but due to all of her chemo meds and immune suppression the beauty salons would not give her a pedicure.

Lisa called the resource unit to see where she could get a bottle of nail polish. The PST happened to have a bottle in her purse and gave it to Lisa. Lisa then took the time to remove the old polish, provide cream and lotion to her legs and feet and apply fresh polish. The patient was thrilled that someone went out of their way to do a kind gesture of giving her human touch and time. This made the patient feel human and loved.