Elizabeth Pusateri
September 2015
Elizabeth
Pusateri
,
RN, BSN
Nursing Administration
Advocate Good Samaritan Hospital
Downers Grove
,
IL
United States

 

 

 

I had to continually push the nurse call button every 2-5 minutes, hold my mom back as best I could so she did not fall and wait as alarms blared to get her unhooked from equipment so she did not fall. At this point, I felt I had no choice but to go to the administrator, so I did.
That is when I met Liz who was beyond graceful, highly professional and stepped up to meet every challenge I faced. She did so promptly and with compassion. Liz, herself, could not find a sitter as we needed, and did the work herself for 2-3 hours until one could be found. She did so gracefully, with kindness and compassion in a very difficult situation. My mom, in her confusion, yelled horribly at Liz, cursed her out, and Liz continued to be the utmost professional in a trying experience. Liz was also willing to work with me to find alternative ways to calm my mom instead of using restraints and drugs. She was a jewel.
Furthermore, she made up a bed in the adjoining room because I was not able to get into my mom's room because my mom was so mad, and I had not been able to sleep in 60 some hours. She made all the difference in my experience this night. Without Liz, I do not know what we would have done. My mom's situation could have ended very tragically if it weren't for Liz.
Liz gave me the dedicated help we needed to allow my mom up without injury. I realize my mom's situation was probably rare because of her severity of the delusion, but Liz made all the world of difference.