Debra Maples
May 2024
Debra
Maples
,
RN
Center of Hope
Riley Children's Hospital at IU Health
Indianapolis
,
IN
United States
The family member left the call with tears of joy and gratefulness for all of Deb's care before ever meeting this family. This all occurred because of Deb's compassion and purpose for the level of care she provides.
Deb has been a nurse at Riley for several years, serving in areas such as NICU, pre/post-op care, and most recently, our Center of Hope/Peds Forensic nursing program. Because of her vast experience, she is able to care for patients and families in a broader whole person way.
On a Monday, Deb had picked up extra hours in the pre/post op area. She was unexpectedly assigned to pre-op phones instead of PACU patient care due to a staffing need and her level of expertise in pre-procedure phone calls. In one of her calls, she encountered a distraught family member of a child coming in for a procedure who was also the recent victim of sexual assault. The child received care for the assault at an out of state facility so was not set up with after care resources in Indiana close to home. In a normal pre-op call that usually takes 15 minutes, Deb stayed on the phone with the family member for 40+ minutes ensuring they had resources, follow up, support, and trust in our care that they needed. Deb ensured they felt safe coming for the child's procedure. She ensured the child and family felt comfortable with the surgeon performing the case and managed up the care they would receive. Deb requested a female anesthesiologist to provide her care because the perp in her assault was a male. She obtained support and resource flyers from our Center of Hope program that would be close to their home and included those in the post-op discharge instructions for the family to have. Deb also took the time to prep the entire care team, including child life, who would be involved in the child's case to ensure the child and family felt as safe and trusting as possible in our care. The family member left the call with tears of joy and gratefulness for all of Deb's care before ever meeting this family. This all occurred because of Deb's compassion and purpose for the level of care she provides.
It is no coincidence that Deb was meant to make that phone call to this family in need with her new level of training with our Center of Hope team. Deb exhibits DAISY Nurse qualities in all she does and the amazing care she provides.
On a Monday, Deb had picked up extra hours in the pre/post op area. She was unexpectedly assigned to pre-op phones instead of PACU patient care due to a staffing need and her level of expertise in pre-procedure phone calls. In one of her calls, she encountered a distraught family member of a child coming in for a procedure who was also the recent victim of sexual assault. The child received care for the assault at an out of state facility so was not set up with after care resources in Indiana close to home. In a normal pre-op call that usually takes 15 minutes, Deb stayed on the phone with the family member for 40+ minutes ensuring they had resources, follow up, support, and trust in our care that they needed. Deb ensured they felt safe coming for the child's procedure. She ensured the child and family felt comfortable with the surgeon performing the case and managed up the care they would receive. Deb requested a female anesthesiologist to provide her care because the perp in her assault was a male. She obtained support and resource flyers from our Center of Hope program that would be close to their home and included those in the post-op discharge instructions for the family to have. Deb also took the time to prep the entire care team, including child life, who would be involved in the child's case to ensure the child and family felt as safe and trusting as possible in our care. The family member left the call with tears of joy and gratefulness for all of Deb's care before ever meeting this family. This all occurred because of Deb's compassion and purpose for the level of care she provides.
It is no coincidence that Deb was meant to make that phone call to this family in need with her new level of training with our Center of Hope team. Deb exhibits DAISY Nurse qualities in all she does and the amazing care she provides.