Colleen Miller
August 2024
Colleen
Miller
,
RN
Community Based Outpatient Clinic
Syracuse VA Medical Center
Syracuse
,
NY
United States
Paige even checked on the vehicle over the weekend when she came into town to have dinner with family.
Paige (Colleen) should be the poster person for I CARE! Every day, I witness Paige going above and beyond for our patients, following up with them on recent hospitalizations and calling them in for Nurse visits when there are no available provider visits. Taking the extra time to sit and listen to the veterans and handling their complaints no matter how small. I watch Paige take notes on patients and then work diligently to answer questions or find solutions to problems that aren't always medically related.
Just recently, I had a patient who was originally a nurse visit for compression stocking fittings. Upon their arrival at the clinic, Paige immediately observed that this patient was in respiratory distress, even while on portable O2. Paige acted quickly and called for assistance from another nurse. They were able to get vitals and a full O2 tank and placed the veteran on a 4L nasal cannula. Paige remained with the patient while the other nurse came and alerted me.
After I visited with the patient and confirmed that he was in acute respiratory distress due to CHF exacerbation, I told the veteran that I was going to call an ambulance and have him transported to the nearest ER for further evaluation and treatment. The veteran was extremely hesitant because he didn't want his vehicle left in the parking lot in Binghamton for fear that it would be towed or broken into. Paige spoke with the veteran in a calm voice and explained that she would make sure that the vehicle wouldn't be towed. She promised the veteran that she would check on the vehicle every day. The veteran was put at ease and agreed to be transported via ambulance to the Emergency Room. Paige checked on his status throughout the rest of the day, and when she found out that he was going to be admitted for an extended period of time, she alerted the VA Police, the Clinic manager, and the building owner to explain the situation about the veteran's vehicle, all of them agreed to allow the vehicle to remain in the parking lot for the duration of the hospitalization. During the next week, Paige checked the vehicle when she pulled into the parking lot every morning and again when she left every evening. She ensured that the vehicle was locked and that no damage had occurred. Paige even checked on the vehicle over the weekend when she came into town to have dinner with family. Paige also checked on the status of the patient throughout his hospitalization through the patient portal, alerting me to any necessary updates to his care.
This type of attention is not abnormal for Paige. I have witnessed Paige do the small things for many veterans that allowed them to put their minds at ease and concentrate on their individual health care. She is not only an amazing and competent nurse but a compassionate human being who takes Whole Health care to heart. Treating not only the physical person but ensuring that their mental well-being is also cared for. If my family members were to come to the VA Binghamton CBOC, I would hope that they would have Paige as their nurse because I know they would be treated with respect and integrity. She is the epitome of I CARE!
Just recently, I had a patient who was originally a nurse visit for compression stocking fittings. Upon their arrival at the clinic, Paige immediately observed that this patient was in respiratory distress, even while on portable O2. Paige acted quickly and called for assistance from another nurse. They were able to get vitals and a full O2 tank and placed the veteran on a 4L nasal cannula. Paige remained with the patient while the other nurse came and alerted me.
After I visited with the patient and confirmed that he was in acute respiratory distress due to CHF exacerbation, I told the veteran that I was going to call an ambulance and have him transported to the nearest ER for further evaluation and treatment. The veteran was extremely hesitant because he didn't want his vehicle left in the parking lot in Binghamton for fear that it would be towed or broken into. Paige spoke with the veteran in a calm voice and explained that she would make sure that the vehicle wouldn't be towed. She promised the veteran that she would check on the vehicle every day. The veteran was put at ease and agreed to be transported via ambulance to the Emergency Room. Paige checked on his status throughout the rest of the day, and when she found out that he was going to be admitted for an extended period of time, she alerted the VA Police, the Clinic manager, and the building owner to explain the situation about the veteran's vehicle, all of them agreed to allow the vehicle to remain in the parking lot for the duration of the hospitalization. During the next week, Paige checked the vehicle when she pulled into the parking lot every morning and again when she left every evening. She ensured that the vehicle was locked and that no damage had occurred. Paige even checked on the vehicle over the weekend when she came into town to have dinner with family. Paige also checked on the status of the patient throughout his hospitalization through the patient portal, alerting me to any necessary updates to his care.
This type of attention is not abnormal for Paige. I have witnessed Paige do the small things for many veterans that allowed them to put their minds at ease and concentrate on their individual health care. She is not only an amazing and competent nurse but a compassionate human being who takes Whole Health care to heart. Treating not only the physical person but ensuring that their mental well-being is also cared for. If my family members were to come to the VA Binghamton CBOC, I would hope that they would have Paige as their nurse because I know they would be treated with respect and integrity. She is the epitome of I CARE!