Elizabeth Wong, MSN, RN

 I received a phone call at 6:20 am from my 91-year-old mother to come pick her up from her home in Carriere, MS, to bring her to Urgent Care. She had been up all night with nausea and diarrhea that had been going on for a week.

I live in Busy, LA and work at STPH in the Infusion Department. My husband also works for STPH in the Hospice Department. He was currently at work that day when my mother called. My father is also 91-years-old but suffers from dementia and does not drive.

My mother was very pale with a weak appearance and had recently been seen by her Primary Physician that week for anemia and started on an oral iron supplement. Therefore, instead of bringing her to the Urgent Care as she requested, I felt she needed to go to the ER. I brought her to STPH to be closer to my house just in the event she were to be admitted.

My mother was not happy with my decision to bring her to the ER, which made her angry when she entered the ER. My mother was a very angry and difficult patient, refusing an IV for fluid administration and stating she did not need any lab work since she had labs during the week for her Primary Physician. She then became very upset when she was told they needed a urine sample and stool specimen with a rectal exam.

I am writing this DAISY Award for the ER Nurse, Elizabeth Wong. A thank you note is not enough for the nursing care she provided to my elderly mother. She needs to be recognized as an outstanding nurse representing STPH!

She was wonderful with my mother. She was very compassionate, patient, and explained the importance of why and what was ordered to make sure she received the best care possible.

I did not tell Ms. Elizabeth that I was a nurse who also worked for STPH. I felt my role was to be a daughter and not a nurse that day. However, when my husband walked into the room with his scrubs and STPH name badge to check on my mother’s condition, Ms. Elizabeth knew that she was caring for two coworkers’ family members. This did not change the type of excellent nursing care Ms. Elizabeth provided from the moment we entered the room until discharge.

Ms. Elizabeth assisted my mother with undressing and helped her obtain a clean-catch urine sample and provided comfort and compassion during a rectal exam/stool collection by a male NP. She also demonstrated her expertise by starting a 20G IV to the hand while also obtaining a blood sample at the same time. This allowed my mother to only experience one needle stick, which my mother was refusing from the time she walked into the room.

Also, her experienced IV skills were reflected when my mother stated, “Wow, that did not hurt; you are good!” Ms. Elizabeth kept us informed and continued to explain the care that was being provided.

This visit to the ER not only proved to be exactly what my mother needed but also proved to both my husband and myself that STPH provides excellent quality care. We are both proud to say that we are employees of such a great hospital and would drive the extra mile to receive this type of care again if needed.

Thank you, Ms. Elizabeth, for being such a great nurse, and thank you, STPH, for being there when we needed it most!