November 2023
Emily
VanSicklin
,
BSN, RN
Neuro
St. Mary's Regional Hospital
Grand Junction
,
CO
United States
Emily constantly demonstrates exceptional care to her patients and families by providing both quick critical thinking and going above and beyond to advocate for her patients and make sure they feel heard.
I spent Saturday evening through Tuesday morning on the 9th floor. I was admitted due to my frequent, intense, and likely Psychogenic non-epileptic seizures. During my stay, Emily was my assigned nurse. I learned that Emily previously was a CNA and an LPN, and now a recent RN grad. The care I received from Emily was that of a nurse at a level of someone with decades of experience. Emily always came quickly when I needed help. She was always there to help me through my PNES episodes. She was quick to update the doctors on any changes. She is a great role model for other nurses, showing leadership, confidence, knowledge, and compassion.
***
Day after day, Emily constantly demonstrates exceptional care to her patients and families by providing both quick critical thinking and going above and beyond to advocate for her patients and make sure they feel heard. Emily floated around the floor "PRNing" as a tech and nurse in the morning, then received a full patient assignment mid-shift. Still, with her unblemished, positive attitude, Emily performed rounds during a free moment to check in on her coworkers. On the opposite end of the unit from her assigned patients, Emily found a patient in emotional distress. This patient, admitted for vascular dementia, had been on our unit for 77 days. It is important to note that this patient, common with any dementia patient, has labile emotions and is often not redirectable or consolable. The patient had a lucid day and was reinformed of her diagnosis, and was able to express extreme feelings of fear and loneliness in relation to said circumstance. Emily was quick to grab the necessities for this type of situation: Kleenex, hot tea, a warm blanket, listening ears, and a hand to hold. Emily sat next to the patient, kindly patted her back, and provided a level of comfort that was visible and palpable from our unit's video monitoring system. She knew just what to say and how to console the patient. At the end of the conversation, the patient was back on her feet, still remembering the situation, but with a better outlook and gratitude for Emily's time. Any staff member could have thought to avoid the situation as they weren't "assigned" to her that shift, or maybe because the patient may not remember the circumstance moments from then, but it takes someone truly extraordinary to exhibit the compassion, support, and presence that Emily does to patients, families, and coworkers every day
***
Day after day, Emily constantly demonstrates exceptional care to her patients and families by providing both quick critical thinking and going above and beyond to advocate for her patients and make sure they feel heard. Emily floated around the floor "PRNing" as a tech and nurse in the morning, then received a full patient assignment mid-shift. Still, with her unblemished, positive attitude, Emily performed rounds during a free moment to check in on her coworkers. On the opposite end of the unit from her assigned patients, Emily found a patient in emotional distress. This patient, admitted for vascular dementia, had been on our unit for 77 days. It is important to note that this patient, common with any dementia patient, has labile emotions and is often not redirectable or consolable. The patient had a lucid day and was reinformed of her diagnosis, and was able to express extreme feelings of fear and loneliness in relation to said circumstance. Emily was quick to grab the necessities for this type of situation: Kleenex, hot tea, a warm blanket, listening ears, and a hand to hold. Emily sat next to the patient, kindly patted her back, and provided a level of comfort that was visible and palpable from our unit's video monitoring system. She knew just what to say and how to console the patient. At the end of the conversation, the patient was back on her feet, still remembering the situation, but with a better outlook and gratitude for Emily's time. Any staff member could have thought to avoid the situation as they weren't "assigned" to her that shift, or maybe because the patient may not remember the circumstance moments from then, but it takes someone truly extraordinary to exhibit the compassion, support, and presence that Emily does to patients, families, and coworkers every day