Sara Schulte
August 2021
Sara
Schulte
,
BSN, RN
11 East Doan, Medical Surgical unit
The Ohio State Wexner Medical Center, University Hospital
Columbus
,
OH
United States
Sara stopped the Uber driver in a side conversation asking for the driver to make sure the patient made it into his house.
Sara Schulte contacted me about the hardships of a particular patient's home life. Upon discharge, the patient assured staff that he would have a ride home and continued to call his friend. The patient was discharged on the day shift. A couple of hours went by after discharge and the patient called the unit clerk saying he couldn't find a ride home.
Sara was the charge nurse that night. She stopped what she was doing, enlisted help, and went to the 12th avenue garage entrance. They found the patient still in the wheelchair, thirsty hungry, and wet. They took care of the patient's immediate needs. Sara expressed concern about the patient's ride. The patient was unsure of his ride at this time.
Sara and M called and paid an Uber for the patient's ride home. Sara stopped the Uber driver in a side conversation asking for the driver to make sure the patient made it into his house. She then stopped the patient and reminded him of medications, discharge instructions, and emphasized his safety with the possibility of using "911" for an emergency.
The next day I received a text from Sara. She had a dream about the patient and did not sleep very well. She needs to know he's okay. She stated she has a friend who is a cop and if she gave the word, they will do a wellness visit. She then sent all of this in an email to management asking for escalation of this issue. When things were not moving fast enough via Email, she asked for another direction in this matter. She was able to reach the patient via phone for a post-hospitalization follow-up.
The patient will be receiving his medications and is doing well. He also told Sara that a couple of nice girls paid for his ride home, Sara laughed at that last part. We see a lot of homelessness and IVDU on 11 East Doan. I am constantly floored by the amount of caring and understanding of a person, not a patient, that the staff on 11ED put into their everyday. Sara continues to be a leader on the night shift. She does not shy away from tough situations and will move heaven and earth for her patients, or in this case, a man in a wheelchair needing a ride home.
Sara was the charge nurse that night. She stopped what she was doing, enlisted help, and went to the 12th avenue garage entrance. They found the patient still in the wheelchair, thirsty hungry, and wet. They took care of the patient's immediate needs. Sara expressed concern about the patient's ride. The patient was unsure of his ride at this time.
Sara and M called and paid an Uber for the patient's ride home. Sara stopped the Uber driver in a side conversation asking for the driver to make sure the patient made it into his house. She then stopped the patient and reminded him of medications, discharge instructions, and emphasized his safety with the possibility of using "911" for an emergency.
The next day I received a text from Sara. She had a dream about the patient and did not sleep very well. She needs to know he's okay. She stated she has a friend who is a cop and if she gave the word, they will do a wellness visit. She then sent all of this in an email to management asking for escalation of this issue. When things were not moving fast enough via Email, she asked for another direction in this matter. She was able to reach the patient via phone for a post-hospitalization follow-up.
The patient will be receiving his medications and is doing well. He also told Sara that a couple of nice girls paid for his ride home, Sara laughed at that last part. We see a lot of homelessness and IVDU on 11 East Doan. I am constantly floored by the amount of caring and understanding of a person, not a patient, that the staff on 11ED put into their everyday. Sara continues to be a leader on the night shift. She does not shy away from tough situations and will move heaven and earth for her patients, or in this case, a man in a wheelchair needing a ride home.