Abby Bushnell
July 2021
Abigail
Bushnell
,
BSN, RN
Cardiology
Kaiser Permanente Colorado
Lone Tree
,
CO
United States
Abby pulled up a chair and just listened. Week after week, she was not only his nurse but his friend.
When I worked with Abby in primary care, we had a patient that came in weekly for a phlebotomy procedure. He was a post-bone marrow transplant patient with leukemia in remission. He came in always happy and had lots of funny stories to tell us. I oriented Abby to the procedure and she eventually became his primary phlebotomy nurse (because of her amazing IV skills). Week after week Abby and the member sat in the room for 30 minutes at a time and told stories, jokes, and shared wisdom. One day when Abby was in there, even though the member was his usual jovial self, she noticed something in him. She asked if he was ok and he just looked at her...and said no. And cried. He was severely depressed about everything that had happened to him and the ongoing medical appointments he always had. Abby pulled up a chair and just listened. Week after week, she was not only his nurse but his friend. She helped him get connected with his resources for behavioral health and worked with his PCP on monitoring and managing his depression. The member would bring in homemade treats for the team at the holidays all because of the service Abby provided to him. Sadly, he did pass away. But his wife came in afterward and spoke to Abby about the difference she made in his quality of life. Even though he had to come in so often to so many appointments, his favorite times were coming in for phlebotomy so he and Abby could have their talks. Abby showed us all that we don't have to be task-driven nurses. We have to slow down and connect with our patients because we don't know how much they need that some days...and how much we need it too. Abby is now a nurse manager and still models this approach every day to her staff. KP is so lucky to have her.