Kaley Jackson
March 2025
Kaley
Jackson
,
BSN, RN, MEDSURG-BC:P
8 south
Advocate Christ Medical Center
Oak Lawn
,
IL
United States
Before leaving for the shift, the patient grabbed Kaley’s hand and muttered, “you found my family.”
Kaley received patient, s/p, MVA & CVA. The patient was unable to provide names or any identifiers. Patient had expressive aphasia, making him difficult to understand. Kaley searched through his belongings and couldn't find any identification. However, she found a driving ticket that had a name and address, which was incorrect, making it harder to identify him. Kaley used internet resources using the name and address, hoping it was near the correct address, and found a list of phone numbers associated to his name and address.
Kaley also found his cell phone, which was out of battery, and charged the phone near her at the RN station. The phone was protected by password, and the patient was unable to unlock it. Kaley called the phone numbers listed to the address until the phone rang, which then provided her his phone number. Knowing the number, she found the his DOB and a list of possible siblings. Kaley said each name to the patient until he responded with “Yes”. Kaley called the number to that name and left a short message, with no confidential information. Unfortunately, Kaley heard nothing more that day and the patient remained a “John Doe.”
On the next day, Kaley again cared for the patient and held his phone close to her. During the day, the phone rang, and it was the patient's sister calling back. She rushed to the hospital and was able to give a med history, med list, insurance card, etc. and the patient was no longer a “John Doe.” Soon after, the patient's phone rang again, and Kaley answered. The man shared that he was the patient's best friend since the age of 10, over 40 years.
Kaley went into the room and asked him if he knew this man on the phone, and the patient was able to say “yes, my friend” and acknowledged that Kaley could talk to him. The friend shared that he was with the patient on Thursday night and hadn’t heard from him since. It was now Sunday morning, and he was very concerned as he didn’t show up to church that morning, so he called his phone. The friend immediately left church to come to the hospital.
When the friend walked in the room with Kaley, the patient immediately began to cry as the friends embraced in a hug. Before leaving for the shift, the patient grabbed Kaley’s hand and muttered, “you found my family.” This is just one of many examples that shows that Kaley prioritizes her patients and is nursing for the reason of providing compassion and selfless care. Nursing is her calling, she has so much love for this work and for her patients.
Kaley also found his cell phone, which was out of battery, and charged the phone near her at the RN station. The phone was protected by password, and the patient was unable to unlock it. Kaley called the phone numbers listed to the address until the phone rang, which then provided her his phone number. Knowing the number, she found the his DOB and a list of possible siblings. Kaley said each name to the patient until he responded with “Yes”. Kaley called the number to that name and left a short message, with no confidential information. Unfortunately, Kaley heard nothing more that day and the patient remained a “John Doe.”
On the next day, Kaley again cared for the patient and held his phone close to her. During the day, the phone rang, and it was the patient's sister calling back. She rushed to the hospital and was able to give a med history, med list, insurance card, etc. and the patient was no longer a “John Doe.” Soon after, the patient's phone rang again, and Kaley answered. The man shared that he was the patient's best friend since the age of 10, over 40 years.
Kaley went into the room and asked him if he knew this man on the phone, and the patient was able to say “yes, my friend” and acknowledged that Kaley could talk to him. The friend shared that he was with the patient on Thursday night and hadn’t heard from him since. It was now Sunday morning, and he was very concerned as he didn’t show up to church that morning, so he called his phone. The friend immediately left church to come to the hospital.
When the friend walked in the room with Kaley, the patient immediately began to cry as the friends embraced in a hug. Before leaving for the shift, the patient grabbed Kaley’s hand and muttered, “you found my family.” This is just one of many examples that shows that Kaley prioritizes her patients and is nursing for the reason of providing compassion and selfless care. Nursing is her calling, she has so much love for this work and for her patients.