October 2019
Tracie
Grandstaff
,
RN
PreOp/PACU/PAT
Mount Carmel New Albany Hospital
,
OH
United States

 

 

 

Tracie has years of PACU experience with a wealth of knowledge to show for it. Tracie had a Great Catch that emulates the wonderful bedside nurse and patient advocate that she exhibits every day. Tracie had a patient in PACU that had lumbar surgery. She noticed the patient's weakness and paresthesia in one of his legs. She reported it to the surgeon. The surgeon stated to continue observing the patient. Tracie continued by sharing her concerns with his Anesthesiologist. The patient was scheduled to be discharged the same day, so he was transferred to Phase 2 to prepare for discharge. Tracie was walking by his Phase 2 room and noticed he was attempting to walk with the Phase 2 nurse and his leg kept buckling out from under him. Tracie called the surgeon again with her concern. He stated the patient could be transferred upstairs to spend the night with continued observation. Tracie called that next morning to check on her patient at 5:00 am. The nurse stated he was still experiencing the same deficits. Tracie was scheduled to work the next day and came in and ARCC'd her concerns up to her Clinical Manager. These concerns were shared with Administration. That same day the patient had an MRI followed by surgery due to a hematoma, which was causing the deficit for this patient. Had Tracie not followed through with her gut instinct and persistence, this patient would have had a far different outcome. Tracie practiced her Zero Harm skills, pushed, and pushed for the safety of the patient. I applaud Tracie for her attention to detail and astuteness. This is a huge example of the safe, quality, committed care that Tracie delivers to her patients every day. Tracie is a tremendous asset to our department.