May 2016
Ami
Harris
,
RN, BSN
Same Day Surgical Department
Highland Hospital
Rochester
,
NY
United States
Ami has a calm, confident presence that is appreciated and admired by her coworkers. She is a wonderful resource for even the most experienced nurses to go to with questions regarding labor and delivery patients, as well as GYN patients.
One patient in particular comes to mind when describing Ami's wonderful amazing combination of competence and compassion. A 31-year-old female patient (mother of a 5-year-old and 2-week-old) was admitted and discharged through the Same Day Surgery Unit, after receiving care for a retained placenta after a C-section 2 weeks prior. The patient had a D & C, met all SDSU criteria for discharge, was evaluated by her physician and was sent home thinking that all was well.
Later that day she returned to the hospital through the ED in excruciating pain, abdomen distended, actively hemorrhaging, in full blown DIC. This is an emergency. The patient was without accompanying family members for support due to the urgency of the situation and the need for her husband to be with their children. She was sobbing, she was in pain and was admitted to the hospital for preoperative workup and emergency surgery.
Ami took charge of the situation immediately. She was able to identify the anesthesiologist who could help her with pain medication orders, manage the patient's hemorrhage, administer necessary blood products, delegate tasks to coworkers in an orderly way, thus decreasing the patient's anxiety all while soothing her with calm words, reassurance and hand holding.
Although Ami took charge of the situation, she facilitated teamwork that allowed another nurse to expertly assist in the patient's care, and paved the way for the lead Patient Care Technician on the unit to hold the patient's hand and comfort her spiritually. The patient was so moved by the compassion of the team caring for her, that she sought out the PCT involved in her care so that she could speak with her afterward.
The patient spent a week or so recovering in the ICU, and after discharge the patient's husband made it a point to thank the people involved in caring for his wife and saving her life. He was completely overwhelmed by what was happening and was grateful for the compassion extended to his wife preoperatively when he could not be present.
The example shared above is just one of many that illustrate Ami's commitment to both her patients and living out the ICARE values of Highland Hospital.
One patient in particular comes to mind when describing Ami's wonderful amazing combination of competence and compassion. A 31-year-old female patient (mother of a 5-year-old and 2-week-old) was admitted and discharged through the Same Day Surgery Unit, after receiving care for a retained placenta after a C-section 2 weeks prior. The patient had a D & C, met all SDSU criteria for discharge, was evaluated by her physician and was sent home thinking that all was well.
Later that day she returned to the hospital through the ED in excruciating pain, abdomen distended, actively hemorrhaging, in full blown DIC. This is an emergency. The patient was without accompanying family members for support due to the urgency of the situation and the need for her husband to be with their children. She was sobbing, she was in pain and was admitted to the hospital for preoperative workup and emergency surgery.
Ami took charge of the situation immediately. She was able to identify the anesthesiologist who could help her with pain medication orders, manage the patient's hemorrhage, administer necessary blood products, delegate tasks to coworkers in an orderly way, thus decreasing the patient's anxiety all while soothing her with calm words, reassurance and hand holding.
Although Ami took charge of the situation, she facilitated teamwork that allowed another nurse to expertly assist in the patient's care, and paved the way for the lead Patient Care Technician on the unit to hold the patient's hand and comfort her spiritually. The patient was so moved by the compassion of the team caring for her, that she sought out the PCT involved in her care so that she could speak with her afterward.
The patient spent a week or so recovering in the ICU, and after discharge the patient's husband made it a point to thank the people involved in caring for his wife and saving her life. He was completely overwhelmed by what was happening and was grateful for the compassion extended to his wife preoperatively when he could not be present.
The example shared above is just one of many that illustrate Ami's commitment to both her patients and living out the ICARE values of Highland Hospital.