Katy Benjamin
December 2019
Katy
Benjamin
,
BSN, RN, ONC
Total Joint Replacement Unit
Medical University of South Carolina
Charleston
,
SC
United States

 

 

 

During Hurricane Florence, and the 2 weeks leading up to, we have had an elderly confused patient on the floor. She suffers from bipolar disorder as well as dementia and delirium and frequently calls out with repeated requests. This behavior has been very taxing on the staff, except for Katy. Katy recognizes that the patient is lonely and often just wants someone to interact with. Anytime she is working, she pays special attention to this patient. For the duration of the storm, while Katy was charge, she frequently brought the patient to the nurses' station to spend quality time. She assisted her in FaceTiming with her family. They also colored, did many crafts, and Katy often just listened to her stories. Katy demonstrated her patience and endless compassion for the patient while also taking stress off of the other nurses. Not only did she make the time easier for her coworkers, by occupying the patient, but she made the patient feel genuinely cared for.