Belinda Lew
March 2024
Belinda
Lew
,
BSN, RN, CCRN
PACU
UVA Health Haymarket Medical Center
Haymarket
,
VA
United States
She encouraged this patient and reassured her that she was safe and that everything was being done to provide her with continued, safe care. This patient trusted Belinda and her calm mannerism.
As I review the nomination form, Belinda meets all the criteria for the award as she demonstrated all of the attributes listed below:
Passion/Compassion
Empathy/Encouraging
Trust and Teamwork
Assurance/Reassurance
Appreciation of Unique Meaning
Love for patient care and nursing profession
Selflessness/synergy
Recently, a patient had arrived in pacu s/p Robotic assisted laparoscopic hysterectomy with bilateral salpingectomy with bilateral oophorectomy. Belinda Lew was assigned to the patient as her Primary Phase 1 recovery Nurse.
Stable post-op, normal course
The patient was scheduled to be discharged to phase 2 when the criteria were met and then to be discharged to home.
However, when the patient was more awake and verbal, the patient stated she had a desire to stay in the hospital, she didn't feel comfortable being discharged. Belinda reached out to the doctor with the patient's concerns about pain management, and her desire to stay in the hospital overnight. At approximately 11:40 am, I was seated next to the patient, but caring for another patient in the next bay, when Belinda's patient asked, If she could asked me a question. I answered, "Of course." the patient asked if it was normal to have discomfort in one spot and if it was normal for her abdomen to feel hard. I went to the patient's bedside and observed the patient's abdomen. Next to one of the trocar sites, the patient had developed a significant hematoma. I asked Belinda to return to the beside, as she had just bladder scanned the patient and In and out catheterized the patient within the past 5-10 minutes. This was a new finding. We placed a pressure dressing on the site with an abdominal binder and ice. The doctor was notified, and she returned to the bedside. Determined that the patient's hematoma was increasing in size and made the decision to return to the OR for evaluation. Of note is that the patient stated she had Lovenox in the morning at that same spot. The team in the PACU and the OR communicated in a very efficient, safe manner and returned to the OR. Post operatively it was determined that the patient would go to CT/arteriogram after surgery and from there the patient was upgraded to ICU. The patient was transferred to ICU in stable condition.
Belinda's effort on behalf of this patient is remarkable. What isn't jotted down above, is the Compassion that she demonstrated to that patient. She gave her a hand to hold. Provided reassurance that she was right here, and that she could continue to stay with her until the OR team took her to the operating room, and that she would continue her care when she returned to the PACU post operatively. She encouraged this patient and reassured her that she was safe and that everything was being done to provide her with continued, safe care. This patient trusted Belinda and her calm mannerism. Belinda collaborated with all members of the surgical services team to bring together a positive outcome for this patient. She advocated for this patient even prior to the medical emergency as she communicated to the doctor her desire to stay overnight in the hospital. The entire time, she provided assurance to the patient that she was safe and all attention was being provided to her. Assurance was provided to the patient's family (Husband) as well, as Belinda updated them frequently. Pre surgery/during surgery and Post operatively . The patient specifically asked Belinda NOT to reach out and call her daughter, as she had left the hospital, and didn't want to place undue stress and worry on her young daughter. Belinda respected her request. And again, continued to reassure the patient. Belinda LOVES being a nurse, she is the ultimate professional, and provides them with such care and love. YOU can absolutely tell that Belinda is in a role that she was meant to be in! She certainly is a role model to me and to others! Belinda worked in collaboration with the entire surgical services team/surgeon to improve the patient's care/condition and ensure a safe outcome.
Great job, Belinda! I LOVE WORKING SIDE BY SIDE WITH YOU!!
Passion/Compassion
Empathy/Encouraging
Trust and Teamwork
Assurance/Reassurance
Appreciation of Unique Meaning
Love for patient care and nursing profession
Selflessness/synergy
Recently, a patient had arrived in pacu s/p Robotic assisted laparoscopic hysterectomy with bilateral salpingectomy with bilateral oophorectomy. Belinda Lew was assigned to the patient as her Primary Phase 1 recovery Nurse.
Stable post-op, normal course
The patient was scheduled to be discharged to phase 2 when the criteria were met and then to be discharged to home.
However, when the patient was more awake and verbal, the patient stated she had a desire to stay in the hospital, she didn't feel comfortable being discharged. Belinda reached out to the doctor with the patient's concerns about pain management, and her desire to stay in the hospital overnight. At approximately 11:40 am, I was seated next to the patient, but caring for another patient in the next bay, when Belinda's patient asked, If she could asked me a question. I answered, "Of course." the patient asked if it was normal to have discomfort in one spot and if it was normal for her abdomen to feel hard. I went to the patient's bedside and observed the patient's abdomen. Next to one of the trocar sites, the patient had developed a significant hematoma. I asked Belinda to return to the beside, as she had just bladder scanned the patient and In and out catheterized the patient within the past 5-10 minutes. This was a new finding. We placed a pressure dressing on the site with an abdominal binder and ice. The doctor was notified, and she returned to the bedside. Determined that the patient's hematoma was increasing in size and made the decision to return to the OR for evaluation. Of note is that the patient stated she had Lovenox in the morning at that same spot. The team in the PACU and the OR communicated in a very efficient, safe manner and returned to the OR. Post operatively it was determined that the patient would go to CT/arteriogram after surgery and from there the patient was upgraded to ICU. The patient was transferred to ICU in stable condition.
Belinda's effort on behalf of this patient is remarkable. What isn't jotted down above, is the Compassion that she demonstrated to that patient. She gave her a hand to hold. Provided reassurance that she was right here, and that she could continue to stay with her until the OR team took her to the operating room, and that she would continue her care when she returned to the PACU post operatively. She encouraged this patient and reassured her that she was safe and that everything was being done to provide her with continued, safe care. This patient trusted Belinda and her calm mannerism. Belinda collaborated with all members of the surgical services team to bring together a positive outcome for this patient. She advocated for this patient even prior to the medical emergency as she communicated to the doctor her desire to stay overnight in the hospital. The entire time, she provided assurance to the patient that she was safe and all attention was being provided to her. Assurance was provided to the patient's family (Husband) as well, as Belinda updated them frequently. Pre surgery/during surgery and Post operatively . The patient specifically asked Belinda NOT to reach out and call her daughter, as she had left the hospital, and didn't want to place undue stress and worry on her young daughter. Belinda respected her request. And again, continued to reassure the patient. Belinda LOVES being a nurse, she is the ultimate professional, and provides them with such care and love. YOU can absolutely tell that Belinda is in a role that she was meant to be in! She certainly is a role model to me and to others! Belinda worked in collaboration with the entire surgical services team/surgeon to improve the patient's care/condition and ensure a safe outcome.
Great job, Belinda! I LOVE WORKING SIDE BY SIDE WITH YOU!!