October 2023
Amber
Schiefelbein
,
RN
ROC Outpatient Surgery
Riley Children's Health
Indianapolis
,
IN
United States
My daughter felt her NG tube was stigmatizing, and having a new G tube hidden away meant that she could stop feeling like the identified "cancer kid" at school.
I am nominating Nurse Amber because she provides trauma-informed care. My daughter is a two-time cancer survivor with a diagnosis of PTSD due to medical procedures. Her PTSD impacts her every day, but she has made progress with bi-weekly therapy and medication management. My daughter's medical history is complex, and her surgical site was done in a unique way due to scar tissue from radiation and tumor resections. This was a momentous occasion. My daughter felt her NG tube was stigmatizing, and having a new g tube hidden away meant that she could stop feeling like the identified "cancer kid" at school. Amber caught an error in the discharge activity restrictions made by residents that put my daughter's surgical site at risk. She took the time to review the surgical note and then individualize the discharge instructions. When the site became infected, she worked with the surgeon to create a plan for my daughter that appreciates both the complex medical history and her PTSD. We can administer wound care in the home environment with close communication. Amber's attention to detail, transparency, sound judgment, and kindness are exemplary. Her ability to form a trauma-informed care plan sets her apart from other nurses.