Victoria Collins
March 2021
Victoria
Collins
,
RN
Cardiac Intermediate
ProMedica Flower Hospital
Sylvania
,
OH

 

 

 

Although my brother was silent, Victoria always spoke to him directly with a profound degree of care and assurance in her voice.
My adult brother with Down's Syndrome presented some unique challenges due to a degree of dementia added to several medical problems. I found Victoria to be an excellent balance between professionalism and compassionate care. I spent significant time in his room those days, and although the hospital floor was full, this nurse made regular visits to the room and kept me appraised of any changes in his health status. She never left the room without asking if there was anything else she could do for either my brother or me.
My brother was not able to take pills or eat on his own, but Victoria and I were able to work together to ensure that he swallowed his medications and was able to eat something. Once we determined that he was able to eat, she decided what foods she thought that he could swallow/tolerate and ordered those for him. My brother was not able to communicate while at Flower, so ascertaining his needs was difficult. Although my brother was silent, Victoria always spoke to him directly with a profound degree of care and assurance in her voice. I believe that she used excellent judgment in her care, demeanor, and concern for a challenging patient who could not give feedback.
I know this is all part of her job and assume that he also received excellent care from the nurses on the evening/night shifts when I was not there. I'm nominating Victoria because of what I did witness and feel that she represented Flower and ProMedica well. My family and I are thankful for the care my brother received.