Jolene Berthiaume
January 2021
Jolene
Berthiaume
,
BSN, RN
ED
The Miriam Hospital

 

 

 

Her attention to detail and taking action could have saved this patient from a potentially fertility-threatening reaction. The patient ultimately did well, and it was really because of Jolene's quick instincts and dedication.
Jolene consistently exhibits the professional qualities and attributes that align with our C.A.R.E. values of Compassion, Accountability, Respect, and Excellence. Jolene is a valued member of our Emergency Department (ED) Team. Jolene demonstrates strength in her flexibility and adaptability while meeting the challenges of this demanding practice environment with grace. Jolene is an engaged preceptor who supports our newest team members in a way that is praiseworthy. She has been recognized by her orientees and leadership for these talents. Jolene also demonstrates a strong work ethic, bringing her best consistently. Jolene's ED leaders value the skills described above as well as her dependability, clinical acumen, and contributions to our department.
Jolene was recently recognized by one of the ED attending physicians who wrote, "I wanted to write you both to commend one of our teammates, Jolene! She really exemplifies excellent nursing care and professionalism.
Yesterday was a crazy shift at Miriam, where a young woman in her 20s was triaged to Team 4. This was still early morning when there are only 2 nurses, and she happened to be the 10th patient. Jolene right away recognized the patient was sicker than initially noted and got me and the PA and went to the bedside. The patient was hemorrhaging diffusely, so she got a line in the patient while we found a space for the patient in Team 5. When we got to Team 5, they had just got two ambulances, and one of those patients was in acute distress, so she stayed with me and we managed this patient together in Team 5, and got her transferred with blood running to Women and Infants. In taking care of her, the first unit of blood she received was O negative, and the second unit was O positive. She noticed right away, called the blood bank, and they confirmed they had typed and crossed her as O positive. Her attention to detail and taking action could have saved this patient from a potentially fertility-threatening reaction. The patient ultimately did well, and it was really because of Jolene's quick instincts and dedication.
Then later in the day, the RN who had initially triaged the patient came to work in Team 4, and she felt so bad and was second-guessing herself. Jolene was kind and supportive to her, and relayed that triage is challenging, and really the patient had absconded a lot of information (she kept denying being pregnant to me as well, despite having had 3 prior visits to Women and Infants where she had been told she is pregnant). She also only decompensated when she stood up and blood kept gushing. She was supportive of her colleague and allowed room for her colleague and her to discuss and look for ways to improve.
It is her sense of dedication to patients, quick judgment, and professionalism with her colleagues and other providers that makes working with her a pleasure, and really, she exemplifies excellence. Taking care of patients in high-risk scenarios like this is challenging, but with this kind of excellent nursing, things work so much smoother and better".
This clinical example exemplifies Jolene's work, highlighting our C.A.R.E. values and spirit of The DAISY Award!