I was doing my rounds in 6 West and heard an overhead page calling a patient back to their room. It was Christine overhead paging the patient. After a few minutes, the patient did not return. One of the nurses replied if the patient is not on hold, we can’t do much. After two hours, we can consider that an elopement. Christine seemed to be worried about her patient. She said, “I hope he is not buying something from the vending machine or the cafeteria,” I asked, “Why?” She said, “He has a JP drain at his neck area due to a defect in the pharynx and the order is to sip only 5ml water.” Christine was afraid that he might buy some food which could cause aspiration.

She said, “I know my patient is alert and oriented, not on any hold, but I am worried about him.” She went downstairs by the cafeteria and vending machines looking for her patient. I also accompanied her to find the patient. On the way from 6 West to the 1st floor, Christine asked Security, volunteers, and a few staff members if they had seen her patient and explained how he looked. One staff from the lift team also came with us, seeing Christine’s anxiety about her patient. Sure enough, the patient was in the cafeteria, had purchased a full meal, and was trying to eat. When she found the patient, she tried to explain his limitation with food and how he should consume food and explained the slow transition from a liquid diet to a regular diet.

The patient was pretty upset and wasn’t willing to listen to her. She was very calm. The patient also has a history of mental illness and denying food which could trigger abusive behavior. She was aware of his health history. So, she used a different approach for him saying, “I am not taking the food away. Let’s take the food and go to your room. In case you get aspirated or choke, we are all around you to provide immediate action. If I leave you here in the cafeteria alone to eat and something happens, the people may not see you or have knowledge of what to do. If you are with us on the floor, it is safer for you.”

The patient wasn’t giving any eye contact throughout, but he was listening. Once she completed her conversation, he took the lid, closed his food, and walked with us to his room. He did not eat or insist to eat his food. Christine had already notified the provider regarding the patient’s disappearance from the room. When we got back, the provider was already there and thanked Christine for bringing the patient back because he was not ready to be discharged.

What I noticed in Christine is her compassionate genuine care and her concern for her patient’s safety, afraid that he might aspirate and leave the hospital with multiple drains and IV locks. I am so proud to work with her because she is an extraordinary nurse. I witnessed multiple incidents like this with her patients. She is a true role model for the unit. Her exemplary action and therapeutic communication really helped an angry, upset, and hungry patient to think about his safety and come back to continue his treatment as planned. Christine going that extra mile is very admirable and that is the true meaning of “A NURSE”. I really think Christine deserves recognition because she exemplifies the kind of RN that the patient, families, as well as other nurses, providers, and other members of the Harbor-UCLA healthcare team want, and she is an outstanding role model!