Carolyn M. Rucker
November 2022
Carolyn
M. Rucker
,
PACT LVN
Victoria Outpatient Clinic, PACT Team
South Texas Health Care System-Victoria Outpatient Clinic
Victoria
,
TX
United States
Ms. Rucker remained with the veteran during the exam and provided verbal positive reinforcement.
Ms. Carolyn Rucker has been a nurse in the Victoria OPC since 2001. She continuously shows our Veterans personalized and veteran-centered care in every interaction that is made. Ms. Rucker understands by providing personalized care, she must truly understand and relate to the person and not just the “patient.”
Medical Sexual Trauma (MST) refers to a form of sexual harassment and sexual assault sustained in military service. MST is often underreported however has a high prevalence throughout. VHA has recognized this and implemented a screening program to capture MST. A positive MST screening can be correlated to both psychological and physical health problems and can have lasting lifelong impacts on the veteran. By understanding the “person,” Ms. Rucker, was able to provide emotional support during a Well Woman’s exam, for a female veteran with a history of MST who came into the Victoria OPC with her husband. Ms. Rucker understood for this veteran, ordinary tasks can trigger those unpleasant memories and cause a psychological response of “zoning out” or amnesia which was shared by the veteran’s husband. Ms. Rucker remained with the veteran during the exam and provided verbal positive reinforcement by letting her know, “she was in control, she was not alone, and at any time, the exam can stop.”
By being there both physically and emotionally for the veteran, the exam was able to be completed. At the end of the exam, the veteran experienced a short moment of amnesia and together with the provider, Ms. Rucker reoriented the veteran and continued to provide her with emotional support. After the amnesia episode, the provider recommended that the spouse transport the veteran to the ED for an additional amnesia workup. Ms. Rucker quickly notified the PACT RN of the provider recommendation for ED transport to ensure follow-up was scheduled for the following day. Ms. Rucker continuously goes above and beyond with every veteran and continuously exhibits all the ICARE values.
Medical Sexual Trauma (MST) refers to a form of sexual harassment and sexual assault sustained in military service. MST is often underreported however has a high prevalence throughout. VHA has recognized this and implemented a screening program to capture MST. A positive MST screening can be correlated to both psychological and physical health problems and can have lasting lifelong impacts on the veteran. By understanding the “person,” Ms. Rucker, was able to provide emotional support during a Well Woman’s exam, for a female veteran with a history of MST who came into the Victoria OPC with her husband. Ms. Rucker understood for this veteran, ordinary tasks can trigger those unpleasant memories and cause a psychological response of “zoning out” or amnesia which was shared by the veteran’s husband. Ms. Rucker remained with the veteran during the exam and provided verbal positive reinforcement by letting her know, “she was in control, she was not alone, and at any time, the exam can stop.”
By being there both physically and emotionally for the veteran, the exam was able to be completed. At the end of the exam, the veteran experienced a short moment of amnesia and together with the provider, Ms. Rucker reoriented the veteran and continued to provide her with emotional support. After the amnesia episode, the provider recommended that the spouse transport the veteran to the ED for an additional amnesia workup. Ms. Rucker quickly notified the PACT RN of the provider recommendation for ED transport to ensure follow-up was scheduled for the following day. Ms. Rucker continuously goes above and beyond with every veteran and continuously exhibits all the ICARE values.