Marie Akin, RN

Marie Akin went above and beyond for her patient and their family. During the patient's preadmission phone interview, the patient seemed appropriate and alert and oriented until Marie asked who was going to be driving him home after surgery, and he informed her that Miley Cyrus would be picking him up. Initially, Marie thought he was joking, but something didn't feel right, so instead of brushing it off, Marie took the initiative to contact his brother.

By involving his brother, she was able to identify that this had been going on for a while, and the brother stated they had been unable to get any help. Marie also learned that there was a family history of dementia. Marie provided resources, including the phone number of an Alzheimer's clinic, and contacted the surgeon's office and the patient's primary care physician, recommending that they have the patient come in for a wellness check. The office staff at the PCP office notified Marie that the patient did have an upcoming appointment, and they would note it in the patient's chart to be evaluated during the patient's visit. 

Marie's ability to recognize subtle signs that something wasn't quite right demonstrated her excellent clinical judgment. She handled a challenging situation with professionalism, thoroughness, and strong clinical judgment, and it did not go unnoticed by her team. Her decision to further assess her patient's mentation, contact his brother, identify potential concerns, and provide resources demonstrates amazing patient advocacy. 

Marie's proactive communication with the surgeon and PCP shows a high level of collaboration and commitment to patient safety. Because of her efforts, both the patient and his family are better supported, and a potential underlying condition has been identified. 

Thank you, Marie, for your compassion, critical thinking, and advocacy.