Crystal Lyerly
October 2020
Crystal
Lyerly
,
RN, OCN
Albemarle
Levine Cancer Institute
Crystal could tell something was "off" as the patient did not appear to be his normal self, and as soon as the patient's oxygen saturation read 70%, she knew he needed to get to the ER for further evaluation right away.
This summer, I had the pleasure to work at LCI-Albemarle as the COVID-19 screener. While the LCI-Albemarle team never ceases to amaze me with their compassion, caring, expertise, and teamwork, I witnessed one patient interaction I will never forget. Over the past several months, I have spent a large amount of time as the screener at LCI-Albemarle and have gotten to know many of the patients and their family members/caregivers.
On this particular day, I could see a familiar patient's face through the window as his spouse pulled under the overhang at the entrance to LCI-Albemarle. As I walked out to offer assistance and a wheelchair (if needed), the patient's spouse asked if there would be any possible way that the RN could administer the patient's scheduled injection curbside so he would not have to get out of the car. Per the patient's spouse, the patient had not been feeling well that day and lacked the energy to come into the clinic. Upon relaying this information to Crystal, she immediately grabbed a vital signs machine and came to assess the patient. At first glance, Crystal could tell something was "off" as the patient did not appear to be his normal self, and as soon as the patient's oxygen saturation read 70%, she knew he needed to get to the Emergency Room (ER) for further evaluation right away. Crystal calmly explained to the patient's spouse that the patient should be immediately taken to the ER. Despite the patient desperately wanting to "just go home and rest," Crystal and his spouse were able to convince him to get "checked out" before going home (and, thankfully, he did!). By contacting the ER and providing the details of her assessment, Crystal was able to expedite the patient's evaluation. Without Crystal's curbside assessment (in which the patient did not even have to get out of the car) and quick response, the patient may have experienced a very different outcome that day as he was admitted to ICU for a pneumothorax and awaiting transfer to a higher-level facility within just a few hours.
Crystal's display of compassion and caring during this situation allowed for the patient to receive the emergent care that he and his spouse did not even know he needed! Following a 40-day hospitalization, the patient returned (walking with minimum assistance) to LCI-Albemarle for an appointment and specifically sought out Crystal to personally thank her for saving his life.
On this particular day, I could see a familiar patient's face through the window as his spouse pulled under the overhang at the entrance to LCI-Albemarle. As I walked out to offer assistance and a wheelchair (if needed), the patient's spouse asked if there would be any possible way that the RN could administer the patient's scheduled injection curbside so he would not have to get out of the car. Per the patient's spouse, the patient had not been feeling well that day and lacked the energy to come into the clinic. Upon relaying this information to Crystal, she immediately grabbed a vital signs machine and came to assess the patient. At first glance, Crystal could tell something was "off" as the patient did not appear to be his normal self, and as soon as the patient's oxygen saturation read 70%, she knew he needed to get to the Emergency Room (ER) for further evaluation right away. Crystal calmly explained to the patient's spouse that the patient should be immediately taken to the ER. Despite the patient desperately wanting to "just go home and rest," Crystal and his spouse were able to convince him to get "checked out" before going home (and, thankfully, he did!). By contacting the ER and providing the details of her assessment, Crystal was able to expedite the patient's evaluation. Without Crystal's curbside assessment (in which the patient did not even have to get out of the car) and quick response, the patient may have experienced a very different outcome that day as he was admitted to ICU for a pneumothorax and awaiting transfer to a higher-level facility within just a few hours.
Crystal's display of compassion and caring during this situation allowed for the patient to receive the emergent care that he and his spouse did not even know he needed! Following a 40-day hospitalization, the patient returned (walking with minimum assistance) to LCI-Albemarle for an appointment and specifically sought out Crystal to personally thank her for saving his life.