Hannah Taber, RN, Associate s Degree , Bachelor s Degree

Hannah Taber, RN, deserves the DAISY Award for her excellent assessment skills and her diligence in advocating for her patients in difficult situations. Hannah was caring for patients on 2East. Hannah recognized signs and symptoms of worsening sepsis and noted changes in vital signs from morning to afternoon. Despite the surgeon's plan to take the patient to surgery the following day, Hannah asked the Rapid Response Nurse for help reviewing the patient's assessment, diagnosis, and plan. Hannah's assessment was accurate, and indeed, the patient was showing signs of decompensation and worsening infection.

At the RRN's suggestion, Hannah contacted the surgery team and the attending physician with an urgent request to see the patient's changes firsthand. She also suggested initiating IV fluids and a transfer order to step down for closer monitoring. Within about an hour of Hannah's assessment and phone calls, the patient was seen and underwent surgery a few hours later. The patient was transferred to ICU post-operatively and was more stable than expected (per night staff and anesthesia team report before surgery). I truly believe the patient's stability afterward was due to Hannah's early recognition of the patient's worsening condition and her diligence in getting providers to the bedside to see for themselves.

As a nurse, it is sometimes difficult to push back and urge providers to rethink their plans after seeing and speaking with the patient. This was a difficult situation. It required more time, more phone calls, more lab work, more personnel, and OR schedule rearrangements, but Hannah knew the patient's safety and best possible outcome depended on all this "extra work." Hannah, I am proud to work alongside you. You are a great role model for the nurses and caregivers around you!