Christina was recognized by a patient for a decision she made that he believed to be life-saving. The patient was in Midland visiting his granddaughter from out of town when he suffered a black-out and went to the ER. He was admitted to Critical Care for observation and Christina was his assigned nurse. Everything seemed normal for the rest of the day until the patient got up to go to the restroom and his heart rate shot up and immediately went back down. Christina caught the spike in heart rate; notified the doctor and was told to observe his condition. The next day, Christina was concerned that her patient was being prepared for discharge. She felt that something wasn't right and called the doctor to explain, which resulted in a consult with a cardiologist. The cardiologist observed the patient's elevated heart rate for 10 minutes. The patient said he felt like his chest was going to burst at any minute and he was very concerned for his wellbeing. Christina assured him that he was in excellent hands. "She eased the tension that was felt in the room, her demeanor put everyone at ease," the patient said. The doctor was able to get the patient on the right medication to stop these episodes from happening. The patient said, "Christina saved my life. If she had not been persistent with her gut feelings, I would have left the hospital with the same condition I had when I came in."
Christina Drinkwater is an excellent nurse on the Critical Care team. She is described as a compassionate team player. Her co-workers describe her as friendly, smart, and a patient advocate. She is willing to help anyone in need and openly shares her knowledge with others. She consistently goes above and beyond to respond to patient and co-worker needs. We all agree Christina is an asset to the Critical Care team.
Because of Christina's compassionate and caring efforts, her patients experience a level of care that exemplifies the impact nurses have in creating an environment where patients and families feel at home.