Jessica
Barriga
December 2013
Jessica
Barriga
,
RN
Medical Telemetry
Salem Hospital
Salem
,
OR
United States

 

 

 

My 92 year old father was a patient on the telemetry unit room 4104 the week of the 4th of November, 2013. Jessica was his nurse two night shifts when I stayed with him. We were amazed by Jessica's talents. She made a busy, hectic evening with my father (up every 30 minutes because of his restless legs) look easy. Despite multiple calls, she was always there with minimal waiting. However, what stood out about Jessica was her ability to accomplish all this in addition to four other patients with a smile, a chat to show him she felt he was her favorite patient, and to tease him back when he teased her. I am a family practitioner and a former hospitalist. I know the JAACO standards well and can assure you she easily followed them all. Even I, at times, roll my eyes at how much is required but Jessica explained why she was doing them. She teased him back gently when he teased her, and made him laugh on the worst night for him. Dad's obvious pain and NPO status was miserable yet Jessica made it not only tolerable but kept his mind off of what was bothering him. He felt safe and so did I under her care. Nothing would go unnoticed tonight, I thought. After multiple sleepless nights, one night he was finally able to sleep. Jessica organized all the interruptions to his sleep to occur at one time so he could get sleep, essential to his healing.

Although I am a clinical family practitioner now, I was a hospitalist for two years a couple years ago and worked with many excellent RN's, I have never met a more compassionate, warm, caring and interested in a patient and his life as Jessica. Her personality is perfectly suited for her job and I hope the unit and hospital recognize that.