We were about to receive a patient from the unit and in report were told this patient refuses everything and has fired almost everyone and he is difficult to deal with. When Shandra heard this she immediately kicked into gear. She made it a point to be in the room when he arrived to start off on the right foot. As usual she worked her 'Shandra charm' and was able to get the patient comfortable and started a bond with him and made him tear up and say "I am in heaven".
Over the next two weeks she maintained that trust and became the advocate and mediator for him and really worked to get him to participate in physical and occupational therapies. She would call on her days off just to check on him. He got to the point where he was too good for rehab and because he was self-pay he could not get accepted to a skilled nursing facility. Shandra worked on grants and got coupons so he could get his medications paid for since he couldn't afford them. She spent hours talking with other disciplines throughout the hospital to help him. When the time came for his discharge, she was at his side. The patient teared up and was thankful for all the support Shandra showed him during his stay.
Shandra turned a "difficult" patient that no one wanted to care for into a patient that everyone cried for at discharge.
Shandra does this with every patient and/or family member whether they are complicated or not. She thrives on not only the challenge, but the inspiration to help a patient in need. Shandra does an amazing job and we are so thankful and honored to be working with such an extraordinary person. She is an inspiration for any nurse that steps onto this unit.