Today Chris had multiple emotional and critical cases that required special techniques that not all nurses are able to do effectively or efficiently. He had one patient who constantly had extreme pain and was both emotionally and mentally compromised. His other patient had suffered a brain injury and could only use a certain part of his body and had what is called "locked in syndrome" where the individual is there and competent but unable to express themselves effectively. During this day, Chris is also our Unit Team Leader. This means that he manages bed flow, nurse stress, doctor and practitioner stress, as well as responding to every code blue in the hospital. As his day progressed, another nurse's patient developed a lethal rhythm and coded. He was at the bedside, working alongside the nurses, delivering care and obtaining labs and tests to help save this patient's life, which we did do. He also assisted in the other nurse's room in order to care for her patient and assure him that he was not left out and that his needs were being addressed. Throughout the day, he also made several phone calls arranging for software for the patient with locked in syndrome, called Optikey, that was developed by Stephen Hawking and allows a person to communicate with only eye movements. This will enable his patient to effectively communicate his needs, desires, and wishes. Imagine how his patient will feel when he is able to express himself! He is also coming in on his day off to help the family set up the software in case there are any technical glitches.
He is always in every room when we need him. He will eat last so that everyone else gets their breaks and holds his own needs after everyone else. He spends an immense amount of time and effort making sure that our days in the ICU run smoothly and effectively. He deals with nerve-riddled families, traumatized nurses, overworked practitioners, and overall stressed staff members, and he does it with poise, grace, and capability. He volunteers for committee help in the unit when they need another opinion and helps with any changes that need to be made. He does all this, then goes home and studies for his ARNP exams, which he maintains an A+ in, as well as helping his wonderful wife prepare for their first child. NCH Healthcare System couldn't ask for a more professional and competent nurse.
Without him, the patient with locked in syndrome would only be able to communicate to yes or no questions, but starting tomorrow, he could potentially be able to communicate in full sentences, hold a conversation, tell us exactly what he wants and feel like more of a human being and less like a pin cushion who is stuck with no place to go.