Deb Goomey
May 2023
Deb
Goomey
,
RN
Med/Surg
Southwest Health
Platteville
,
WI
United States
Debbie nailed it as a RN. She was looking at my mother as a whole person.
I am a RN. The first nursing class I was required to take was called fundamentals of nursing. During this class, we discussed the history of nursing. nursing care plans, nursing diagnosis and holistic nursing. We were also taught about the roles of the nurse which included assessing, planning, and coordination of patient care, and educating the patient. These were all vague concepts which didn't seem relevant because as a student, I was more interested in learning assessments and nursing skills and bedside nursing. During the first 6 months of covid pandemic, my mother was admitted to the medical surgical unit several times for various medical conditions and her health was declining. During this time, family was not allowed to visit. I would drop my mother off at the ER, she would call me to say she was being admitted, then call to say meet me at the front door for pick up. On one occasion, I came to pick her up, Debbie brought my mother to the car in a wheelchair. Debbie watched as my mother tried to get into my car. This was a difficult feat for my mother as her mobility was declining. Debbie asked my mother if her mobility was a concern for her. Debbie explained to me that she had not been involved in my mother's care except for this morning. Debbie then asked my mother if she would be interested in some physical therapy. She went on to explain that Medicare may pay for the cost of home physical therapy, she then explained the benefits of physical therapy to my mother. She stated she would contact her M.D. then get a referral. Debbie nailed it as a RN. She was looking at my mother as a whole person. What would she need to maintain her health? Physical therapy is not a nursing role but recognizing what my mother needed and then getting the referral made a huge difference for my mother. This is what nurses do. It is not always about bedside nursing. As a result of physical therapy, my mother's attitude toward her health changed. She felt like she had a role in maintaining her health. She exercised daily. She was able to get out of the house, go for car rides, go to lunch, and participate in life. My mother passed away about 6 months after this event. I will always be grateful for Debbie being a part of my mother's life. Because she took the extra time to assess my mother's needs and plan/coordinate her care, my mother did not spend the last months of her life sitting in a chair looking out a window.