My niece is nonverbal and handicapped. She has been a patient for a week with pneumonia. It is a challenge to care for her, as she is not able to answer questions or volunteer information when she is in distress. Historically, her condition can change rapidly. After a few days as a patient, she seemed to be getting slightly better, when suddenly her O2 dropped, her temp shot up, and her heart rate increased alarmingly.

My niece was very sick and terrified. Jackie jumped into action. She repositioned her to best help her breathing, suctioned her to free her air passage, ordered an immediate breathing treatment, and much more. After placing cold washcloths at various parts of her body, Jackie stood guard at her bedside, making more decisions and adjustments until the situation was under control. She even held my niece’s hand to give her comfort.

For the rest of the shift, Jackie was constantly checking on her. The next day Jackie was no longer assigned to my niece, but she stopped in to see how she was. I am amazed at how the nurse was able to think fast and make smart decisions, addressing every aspect of the situation. She not only displayed excellent nursing skills, but also leadership and natural compassion for the patient. As a TNCPE trained quality auditor, I was thrilled to witness this nurse’s level of excellence.