Georgia Perry
June 2021
Georgia
Perry
,
MSN, RN, CNML
Medical Step Down Unit
Vidant Medical Center
Greenville
,
NC
United States
Georgia could easily avoid her own exposure to COVID, but she chooses to get into the rooms, care for her patients, and support her staff.
Georgia Perry is the manager of the Medical Step Down Unit (MSU). This unit is the preferred location for admission of COVID 19 positive and rule-out patients. As one could imagine, MSU has been under a lot of stress during the COVID pandemic, and the instances where Georgia and her team have been under stress are countless. Despite these challenges, Georgia has remained steadfast for her team.
One turning point for the staff of MSU was when COVID-positive patients began to enter into the palliative stage of their care. Staff was challenged to transition from treating patients with the most aggressive techniques to withdrawing care and providing comfort. These situations coupled with the restriction of visitation created emotionally charged environments for all members of the MSU team. It was, and still is, a regular occurrence for staff members to facilitate the final goodbyes between patients and their families over phone calls or video chat. During this difficult time, Georgia took action leading by example. Georgia was visible, rounding and supporting staff. She has never asked them to endure these challenges alone.
Georgia worked to mediate between the palliative care and MSU teams working on policy clarity, and resources around the death and dying process. Georgia could easily avoid her own exposure to COVID, but she chooses to get into the rooms, care for her patients, and support her staff. The best example of this behavior is a nurse who had experienced a patient's death the day before and was potentially losing another patient. Georgia assessed the situation while rounding, and realized the nurse was overwhelmed. She stepped in and sent this nurse to break. Georgia remained at the patient’s bedside for over an hour, in full PPE, holding the patient’s hand and reading him the bible until passing away. This time spent was the greatest act of compassion I have witnessed. Vidant Medical Center needs more nurses, and leaders like Georgia. The DAISY Award was invented for people like Georgia.
One turning point for the staff of MSU was when COVID-positive patients began to enter into the palliative stage of their care. Staff was challenged to transition from treating patients with the most aggressive techniques to withdrawing care and providing comfort. These situations coupled with the restriction of visitation created emotionally charged environments for all members of the MSU team. It was, and still is, a regular occurrence for staff members to facilitate the final goodbyes between patients and their families over phone calls or video chat. During this difficult time, Georgia took action leading by example. Georgia was visible, rounding and supporting staff. She has never asked them to endure these challenges alone.
Georgia worked to mediate between the palliative care and MSU teams working on policy clarity, and resources around the death and dying process. Georgia could easily avoid her own exposure to COVID, but she chooses to get into the rooms, care for her patients, and support her staff. The best example of this behavior is a nurse who had experienced a patient's death the day before and was potentially losing another patient. Georgia assessed the situation while rounding, and realized the nurse was overwhelmed. She stepped in and sent this nurse to break. Georgia remained at the patient’s bedside for over an hour, in full PPE, holding the patient’s hand and reading him the bible until passing away. This time spent was the greatest act of compassion I have witnessed. Vidant Medical Center needs more nurses, and leaders like Georgia. The DAISY Award was invented for people like Georgia.