Nicole Dragoon
May 2025
Nicole
Dragoon
,
MSN, RN, OCN
General Medicine - Baird 3
The University of Vermont Medical Center
Burlington
,
VT
United States
Their compassionate approach extended beyond just medical needs, encompassing emotional support and creating a safe and comforting environment for this patient.
Bethany and Nicole are DAISY Nurse Leaders for their extraordinary care of an autistic patient who has complex physical and emotional needs. This patient’s case was particularly demanding, requiring a high level of coordination and compassion. The patient is well known in outpatient infusion for their complexity and needed to be admitted to B3 for an acute infection and port removal. Because of past experiences, the patient was very reluctant to be admitted and had been battling this infection for several months because of their fear of admission.
Upon admission, this patient required a level of care that demanded not only clinical expertise but also exceptional problem-solving skills and advocacy. Without hesitation, Bethany immediately reached out to Nicole on B3 to create a plan that would benefit the patient as well as the staff. Bethany and Nicole spent several hours at the bedside throughout that first day listening to the patient, creating an interdisciplinary care plan that would help the staff and patient have a mutual understanding and positive experience.
When the patient became upset due to some miscommunication with the care team, Bethany and Nicole proactively collaborated with the interdisciplinary team, advocating for the patient's needs. They were able to create a care plan that addressed the patient’s emotional needs, as well as creating appropriate boundaries and expectations for the staff. They anticipated potential issues and ensured seamless communication between all involved parties. In addition, they set up an interdisciplinary care team meeting with nursing, physicians, and psychiatry early on in the admission. Having personally cared for this patient for the past year, it was no easy feat to create trust with the patient while also creating appropriate boundaries for the staff.
Bethany and Nicole’s efforts in this situation, no doubt, created a more positive experience for everyone involved. What truly stood out was the incredible teamwork and leadership displayed by Bethany and Nicole. They worked seamlessly together, supporting each other and the entire nursing team. Their compassionate approach extended beyond just medical needs, encompassing emotional support and creating a safe and comforting environment for this patient. They are a testament to the power of collaborative nursing leadership and deserve to be recognized for their dedication and compassion to patients and their staff.
Upon admission, this patient required a level of care that demanded not only clinical expertise but also exceptional problem-solving skills and advocacy. Without hesitation, Bethany immediately reached out to Nicole on B3 to create a plan that would benefit the patient as well as the staff. Bethany and Nicole spent several hours at the bedside throughout that first day listening to the patient, creating an interdisciplinary care plan that would help the staff and patient have a mutual understanding and positive experience.
When the patient became upset due to some miscommunication with the care team, Bethany and Nicole proactively collaborated with the interdisciplinary team, advocating for the patient's needs. They were able to create a care plan that addressed the patient’s emotional needs, as well as creating appropriate boundaries and expectations for the staff. They anticipated potential issues and ensured seamless communication between all involved parties. In addition, they set up an interdisciplinary care team meeting with nursing, physicians, and psychiatry early on in the admission. Having personally cared for this patient for the past year, it was no easy feat to create trust with the patient while also creating appropriate boundaries for the staff.
Bethany and Nicole’s efforts in this situation, no doubt, created a more positive experience for everyone involved. What truly stood out was the incredible teamwork and leadership displayed by Bethany and Nicole. They worked seamlessly together, supporting each other and the entire nursing team. Their compassionate approach extended beyond just medical needs, encompassing emotional support and creating a safe and comforting environment for this patient. They are a testament to the power of collaborative nursing leadership and deserve to be recognized for their dedication and compassion to patients and their staff.