Traci Matthews
February 2014
Traci
Matthews
,
RN
Progressive Care
Good Shepherd Medical Center
Longview
,
TX
United States

 

 

 

Traci has been a nurse at Good Shepherd for many years, and always comes to work with a smile on her face. She is a true joy to work with and really cares for her patients. Not only is Traci someone you can turn to for help, she will make you laugh if you are feeling blue.

Traci had a patient who found out that her son, who was 18 months old, had his trach removed and the home health nurse was unable to replace it. The son was in route to GSMC by ambulance; Traci was able to calm the patient. She immediately called the house supervisor, to notify them of the situation, and asked if they could please call her to let her know the status of the child so she could relay the info to the patient.

Traci was able to let the patient know that son had arrived and vitals were stable. The son then had to be transferred to Children's Hospital in Dallas via jet plane. Traci arranged for the patient to see her son in the ER. She accompanied the patient via wheelchair to the ER so this young mother could calm her nerves and see her son. Traci remained with the patient and brought her back to the unit after the patient felt comfortable to leave her son.

Traci then called the operator to open the patient's room phone line so that the Children's Hospital nurse could contact her when her son made it safely to his room. I believe Traci went above and beyond for her patient; this is how she treats all of her patients. She was so concerned for this young mother and did not once hesitate to do any of these things for her. She was also concerned for the other patients she had and while in ER she called the unit twice to check on them.