In February of 2022 Salem Hospital experienced a power outage. On D5, the unit went dark, and the backup power did not switch over as expected. The unit was left with absolutely no power. During this time, D5 had COVID patients on bi-pap machines and high-flow machines. The unit worked quickly to identify the patients with the most needs and vulnerabilities. As an experienced nurse, Dani was able to quickly identify that her patient would be in trouble. Knowing that the high-flow machine would not work without power, she quickly switched her patient over to the bi-pap machine. She double-checked that the oxygen tanks on the machine were full and that the machine was plugged into the red outlet with the hopes that the generator would turn on. Dani delegated staff to gather equipment, such as an AMBU bag, in case the battery on the bi-pap machine did not work and the situation became more critical. This patient had been deteriorating throughout the day. Dani recognized that repositioning to prone position would increase the patient’s chance of a positive outcome.

It was clear to everyone on the unit, nursing staff, support staff, and the National Guard volunteers that this was a life and death situation. Dani’s patient was alert, oriented and had been anxious about her status prior to the power outage. The addition of the power outage tipped the patient from anxiousness over to panic. Dani remained calm and collected and used therapeutic communication to provide the patient with an honest assessment of the severity of the situation. She told the patient she would not leave her side until the power returned. Dani calmly talked the patient through her panic attack knowing that the panic would only make the patient’s respiratory status worsen. Using the trust and rapport Dani had built with the patient, she was able to convince the patient to prone despite the patient’s earlier resistance and fears. From outside the door, staff could see Dani’s calm demeanor and the use of therapeutic touch visibly soothe the patient. Not all nurses would do what Dani did. She remained by the patient’s side and fully focused on her patient during the entire power outage. She could have chosen to check back in with the patient at frequent intervals rather than remain with her or sit from afar and observe the patient. Instead, Dani did not leave.

Everyone should strive to react as Dani did in the face of an emergency. Her excellent nursing judgment allowed her to adapt to an unexpected situation and facilitate the best patient outcome in a difficult situation. Not only did Dani give excellent care to her patient, but she also modeled exemplary behavior that determined the tone for the rest of the nurses on the unit. Her level-headed selfless behavior set the standard for how all nurses on the unit were to act. Dani radiated calm confident competence that influenced the attitudes and behaviors of all the nurses on the unit. Dani was resilient in the face of adversity, and a role model to all. 

No one ever wants to experience an emergency like this in the hospital. Although staff have all been trained to respond in an emergency situation, in the moment everyone reacts differently. In this moment, Dani thrived and showed her commitment to her patient. Dani’s experience, critical thinking, and communication skills allowed her to devise and implement a safe plan before staff had even gotten flashlights out. Dani’s unique skill set, and personality allowed her to form a deep enough connection with her patient to guide her through a panic attack and convince her to prone. Ultimately, it was Dani’s commitment to providing excellent patient care that led to the best outcome possible for her patient.