December 2018
Jaime
Allen
,
MSN, RN
University of Maryland Baltimore Washington Medical Center
Glen Burnie
,
MD
United States

 

 

 

Jaime helped a patient which also affected our unit. The patient is homeless, and she has a history of PTSD. This patient also has a dog. Since the patient is homeless, no one was able to care for the dog. Instead of sending the dog to the pound, where the dog would have 30 days for someone to pick her up, if not, they dog would be euthanized, Jaime willingly decided to take the dog home to care for it. She didn't take care of the dog just one night, but multiple nights. She even took the dog to the vet! Other staff members took notice and were willing to take turns in caring for the dog. Other staff members (RN's, PT's, PA's doctors) realized the dog can be considered a sense of therapy when time got stressful on the floor, even when visitors came and greeted the dog. Jaime really went out of her way to allow the patient to be at ease and be able to focus on her current physical state. She also gave us, the staff, a chance to stop, smile and laugh with the patient's dog when times were stressful on the floor. Now, many of us can remember this odd, yet fond moment on 6West. Thank you Jaime!