Chelsie Kallhoff & Victoria Vau
December 2025
Chelsie Kallhoff & Victoria Vau
3rd Floor CCU
Sanford Aberdeen Medical Center
Aberdeen
,
SD
United States
Chelsie Kallhoff, BSN RN
Victoria Vau, BSN RN
Victoria Vau, BSN RN
Chelsie:
Chelsie was the charge nurse for several days during my uncle's hospitalization. Chelsie went above and beyond by providing a thorough explanation of her clinical assessment and advocating for my uncle by respectfully asking the attending physician to consider other possible testing to diagnose his illness.
Upon admission through the ER, my uncle honestly answered the questions about his alcohol use. From that point forward, he was labeled by the attending physician and social services as "an alcoholic" who was simply experiencing "acute withdrawal". He was admitted nearly 10 days ago, and as I write this today, he is still hospitalized with an undiagnosed bacterial infection.
Chelsie looked beyond the label he had been given and recognized there was more going on. Her advocacy, which pushed the physician to look more deeply, may have just saved his life. Her advocacy, along with the advocacy of his primary nurse, Victoria, resulted in a consultation with infectious disease. Thanks to that consultation, he began receiving the treatment he deserved.
I am a nurse myself, and I know a good nurse when I see one. Chelsie is an exceptional nurse and should be recognized for her consistently compassionate care and her clinical expertise.
Victoria:
Victoria was a primary nurse caring for my uncle on the 3rd floor CCU in Aberdeen, SD. As a nurse myself, I understand the roles and responsibilities of nurses to promote, protect, and optimize the health of the individuals we care for.
When our family felt that my uncle wasn't receiving adequate assessment from his attending physician, Victoria listened to our concerns and advocated for additional testing that led to a consultation with an infectious disease specialist. Until that consultation, the attending physician as "an alcoholic" who was experiencing acute withdrawal and detox.
He answered questions honestly about the amount of alcohol he consumes which resulted in the physician treating the label and not the symptoms and the assessment. Victoria looked beyond that label and recognized that there was more going on. Her excellent clinical assessment skills and advocacy may have just saved his life. Not only did Victoria care for him, but she was consistently compassionate and caring for our family, who were present.
She provided an explanation of the care being provided, and if she didn't know the answer to a question (i.e., why the doctor ordered a topical antifungal for what the physician diagnosed as petechiae), she always went the extra mile to find out. We are incredibly grateful for the care and compassion provided by Victoria
Chelsie was the charge nurse for several days during my uncle's hospitalization. Chelsie went above and beyond by providing a thorough explanation of her clinical assessment and advocating for my uncle by respectfully asking the attending physician to consider other possible testing to diagnose his illness.
Upon admission through the ER, my uncle honestly answered the questions about his alcohol use. From that point forward, he was labeled by the attending physician and social services as "an alcoholic" who was simply experiencing "acute withdrawal". He was admitted nearly 10 days ago, and as I write this today, he is still hospitalized with an undiagnosed bacterial infection.
Chelsie looked beyond the label he had been given and recognized there was more going on. Her advocacy, which pushed the physician to look more deeply, may have just saved his life. Her advocacy, along with the advocacy of his primary nurse, Victoria, resulted in a consultation with infectious disease. Thanks to that consultation, he began receiving the treatment he deserved.
I am a nurse myself, and I know a good nurse when I see one. Chelsie is an exceptional nurse and should be recognized for her consistently compassionate care and her clinical expertise.
Victoria:
Victoria was a primary nurse caring for my uncle on the 3rd floor CCU in Aberdeen, SD. As a nurse myself, I understand the roles and responsibilities of nurses to promote, protect, and optimize the health of the individuals we care for.
When our family felt that my uncle wasn't receiving adequate assessment from his attending physician, Victoria listened to our concerns and advocated for additional testing that led to a consultation with an infectious disease specialist. Until that consultation, the attending physician as "an alcoholic" who was experiencing acute withdrawal and detox.
He answered questions honestly about the amount of alcohol he consumes which resulted in the physician treating the label and not the symptoms and the assessment. Victoria looked beyond that label and recognized that there was more going on. Her excellent clinical assessment skills and advocacy may have just saved his life. Not only did Victoria care for him, but she was consistently compassionate and caring for our family, who were present.
She provided an explanation of the care being provided, and if she didn't know the answer to a question (i.e., why the doctor ordered a topical antifungal for what the physician diagnosed as petechiae), she always went the extra mile to find out. We are incredibly grateful for the care and compassion provided by Victoria