January 2018
Ainsley
Sherwood
,
RN
ICU
University of Vermont Medical Center
Burlington
,
VT
United States

 

 

 

Our son was a trauma/burn patient. He was admitted to SICU. During his stay, Ainsley was a rock in our storm. The patient had so many great nurses, but Ainsley was the best. During each of her overnight shifts, she advocated for the patient. The first night, she pushed for the PCA pain control button and a change in pain meds. What a giant leap in his nausea and pain control. As we know, if the pain is controllable, other things are as well. The second night Ainsley made sure that the patient got out of bed and into a chair before she left in the morning. That day, it probably would have happened, but she used the proactive approach.
On her third night on, Ainsley really noticed the patient was gloomy. She talked to him a while and explained what he was experiencing was normal. She contacted med psych, clergy, just to listen, and the doctor team about starting antidepressants. She realized just how traumatic this whole thing is for a young man who has a killer body that is now going to be different.
Although SICU has many excellent nurses, Ainsley has been amazing for our family and the patient.