Anita H Beaver
September 2023
Anita H
Beaver
,
RN
Urgent Care Clinic
Mann-Grandstaff VA Medical Center
Spokane
,
WA
United States
Taking her aside, she reassured her that this was not her fault, and that she was believed. Anita was able to alleviate her feelings of guilt and fear, helping her to see that there was hope and safety for her.
It was a quiet Sunday mid-morning when a doctor asked Anita, the Charge Nurse that day to speak to a woman at the front entrance who was crying hysterically and asking for help to leave her abusive husband, who was a Veteran.
The woman had a young child with her. She was crying, panic-stricken, using rapid pressured speech, and waving her arms around clearly in an overwhelming situation. She was from Germany and spoke with an accent. She stated she didn't know where to go for help, she understood her husband gets care at MGVAMC so she came to the Urgent Care for help.
Through her sobs and tears of frustration, frantic anxiety, and fear, she was trying to explain her situation, but she was so upset that she could only get a very disjointed story out at first. Remaining calm, Anita sat quietly listening, helped her feel safe; patiently allowing her to tell her story and trying to piece together what was happening in the home, the specific situation that brought her to the urgent care that day, attempting to determine if she was safe.
The woman explained that she had four children ages 13, 11, 10, and 7 years old. The 11-year-old was a boy with severe Autism, non-verbal, had seizures, and was difficult to care for. She was holding down 2 jobs and was the primary caregiver for her children and her husband.
She told Anita that her husband was 100% service-connected for PTSD, anxiety, Bipolar, and had severe anger issues. Anita sat with her and listened attentively as she explained that she must give her husband his meds, shop, and prepare food for him, as well as her other home duties. She said her husband only takes care of his toileting needs, and that is all.
Most recently, he was acting out by becoming more and more angry with each passing day blaming her for everything, throwing her food against the floor, yelling, and cursing at everyone. He had spiraled to the point of breaking and throwing items in the home, and "the children were setting him off just being kids, especially the Autistic boy."
Through many tears, she stated she was "losing it on him, screaming at him, and unable to cope with him anymore". She stated that her anxiety medications were not helping her despite taking more than prescribed, and now she added alcohol to cope. She feared for their safety, that he may direct his anger at the kids and her, become more violent, and didn't feel safe at home any longer.
Anita quietly and calmly reassured her that she would help as much as she could. She ascertained whether the woman had outside support to help her and found that she had none. Her family were all in Germany and her husband's family would not get involved with him because they feared him. She asked if he might be convinced to come in and possibly be admitted to 3 south or another Psych facility, but she stated she was too scared to ask him.
Anita then offered lunch to the young boy as he had not eaten yet that day and allowed the woman to charge her phone as it had died, and she wasn't able to make phone calls or use Google Maps. Taking her aside, she reassured her that this was not her fault, and that she was believed. Anita was able to alleviate her feelings of guilt and fear, helping her to see that there was hope and safety for her. Through a non-judgmental attitude, Anita was able to assist the women to come up with a safety plan for what to do next emphasizing and prioritizing the family's safety.
Anita supported and encouraged her, sitting with her as she made phone calls to several shelters seeking acceptance for herself and her four children. Anita even spoke with a couple of the shelter workers for her because she couldn't concentrate on the questions or know how to answer them. Once she had a safe place to go, Anita was there, guiding her to figure out what she needed to pack, how she was going to get her kids out of the home safely, and if she had a financial resource that she had access to. She answered her questions, encouraged her, and reassured her regarding her decisions to be safe.
Anita acted with integrity and moral principle, committed to upholding the highest professional standards, and diligently served this Veteran family to bring about a safe end. She advocated for her and supported her during a time when she couldn't advocate for herself. She respected and treated her with kindness and dignity, offering food, a kind ear, and support when needed most. Anita strives for excellence by being thoughtful and leading by example to the best of her abilities. I believe Anita has fulfilled her sacred obligation to care for Veterans and their families and is a true DAISY Nurse.
The woman had a young child with her. She was crying, panic-stricken, using rapid pressured speech, and waving her arms around clearly in an overwhelming situation. She was from Germany and spoke with an accent. She stated she didn't know where to go for help, she understood her husband gets care at MGVAMC so she came to the Urgent Care for help.
Through her sobs and tears of frustration, frantic anxiety, and fear, she was trying to explain her situation, but she was so upset that she could only get a very disjointed story out at first. Remaining calm, Anita sat quietly listening, helped her feel safe; patiently allowing her to tell her story and trying to piece together what was happening in the home, the specific situation that brought her to the urgent care that day, attempting to determine if she was safe.
The woman explained that she had four children ages 13, 11, 10, and 7 years old. The 11-year-old was a boy with severe Autism, non-verbal, had seizures, and was difficult to care for. She was holding down 2 jobs and was the primary caregiver for her children and her husband.
She told Anita that her husband was 100% service-connected for PTSD, anxiety, Bipolar, and had severe anger issues. Anita sat with her and listened attentively as she explained that she must give her husband his meds, shop, and prepare food for him, as well as her other home duties. She said her husband only takes care of his toileting needs, and that is all.
Most recently, he was acting out by becoming more and more angry with each passing day blaming her for everything, throwing her food against the floor, yelling, and cursing at everyone. He had spiraled to the point of breaking and throwing items in the home, and "the children were setting him off just being kids, especially the Autistic boy."
Through many tears, she stated she was "losing it on him, screaming at him, and unable to cope with him anymore". She stated that her anxiety medications were not helping her despite taking more than prescribed, and now she added alcohol to cope. She feared for their safety, that he may direct his anger at the kids and her, become more violent, and didn't feel safe at home any longer.
Anita quietly and calmly reassured her that she would help as much as she could. She ascertained whether the woman had outside support to help her and found that she had none. Her family were all in Germany and her husband's family would not get involved with him because they feared him. She asked if he might be convinced to come in and possibly be admitted to 3 south or another Psych facility, but she stated she was too scared to ask him.
Anita then offered lunch to the young boy as he had not eaten yet that day and allowed the woman to charge her phone as it had died, and she wasn't able to make phone calls or use Google Maps. Taking her aside, she reassured her that this was not her fault, and that she was believed. Anita was able to alleviate her feelings of guilt and fear, helping her to see that there was hope and safety for her. Through a non-judgmental attitude, Anita was able to assist the women to come up with a safety plan for what to do next emphasizing and prioritizing the family's safety.
Anita supported and encouraged her, sitting with her as she made phone calls to several shelters seeking acceptance for herself and her four children. Anita even spoke with a couple of the shelter workers for her because she couldn't concentrate on the questions or know how to answer them. Once she had a safe place to go, Anita was there, guiding her to figure out what she needed to pack, how she was going to get her kids out of the home safely, and if she had a financial resource that she had access to. She answered her questions, encouraged her, and reassured her regarding her decisions to be safe.
Anita acted with integrity and moral principle, committed to upholding the highest professional standards, and diligently served this Veteran family to bring about a safe end. She advocated for her and supported her during a time when she couldn't advocate for herself. She respected and treated her with kindness and dignity, offering food, a kind ear, and support when needed most. Anita strives for excellence by being thoughtful and leading by example to the best of her abilities. I believe Anita has fulfilled her sacred obligation to care for Veterans and their families and is a true DAISY Nurse.