Lottie Swager
September 2015
Lottie
Swager
,
BSN, RN, PCCN
Cardiac and Vascular Intermediate Care
Oregon Health & Science University
Portland
,
OR
United States

 

 

 

... Lottie was taking care of a patient with delirium. The patient was fearful, hallucinating, and not engaging in care. She recognized the patient risks (comfort, safety) as top priorities to the patient. She did a thorough cognitive screen, accessed her resources and knowledge on the Cognitive Pyramid and put a plan into place. She coordinated with the providers about the plan, concerns and pharmacological intervention. With her interventions and the pharmacological aid the patient cognition had greatly improved within 12 hours. By the next day, she was engaged in her care, could recognize her own confusion, and felt confident in the care/care staff. Lottie put a plan together and she not only comprehensibly worked with the patient to meet them where they were at the time, but she was sure to pass her plan off to the team members. She wrote the most detailed care plan with recommendations to the team for improvement. She definitely demonstrated the "leader" standard. Further, she did this all while precepting an OHSU immersion student. Therefore, she mentored and helped to build strength in the professionals who will likely be entering our system in the future. Thus I believe she has impacted not only the outcome of this patient, but her influence on a new nurse will likely improve the outcome of many patients in the future.