I am writing to nominate Jaimie Gilbert, RN, for the DAISY Award. Jaimie consistently provides top quality patient-centered care, but recently she exceeded expectations and is deserving of recognition.
This particular patient was involved in an accident and was ventilator dependent. The patient was very anxious and frequently disconnected her ventilator tubing and other devices. It was necessary to restrain her. When Jaimie assumed care of the patient she knew that care could be improved. Although many of the medical team had given up hope of the patient being weaned off the ventilator, Jaimie felt that all options had not been exhausted. She spoke with the attending and advocated for a psychiatric consult and an adjustment to the medication regimen. Jaimie knew that the current treatment was not effective, and she convinced the attending to consult psychiatry and pushed to get it done as quickly as possible.
The next day we saw a great change in the patient's condition. She became less agitated and two days later the patient was taken off the ventilator and the restraints were safely removed. Although the weaning process is on-going and ventilator support is still required overnight, the patient's condition has vastly improved. The patient is now able to speak and spent Sunday rooting for the Jets. The patient is now conversing with her family, expressing her needs and is even showing a sense of humor and joking with staff that she needs a beer!
It is clear the patient's improvement is a result of Jaimie's actions. Jaimie showed compassion and most importantly did not give up on the patient. Jaimie saw an opportunity to improve care and she vehemently advocated for her patient. This is just one example of the great things that Jaimie does, and I can think of no worthier recipient of this prestigious award.
Thank you for taking the time to read this letter and for considering Jaimie for the DAISY Award.
*****
I started my nursing career with Jaimie Gilbert, RN, as a role model, and there truly is so much she should be nominated for, but the most recent event that really made me want to nominate her has to do with a patient who has been with us for months and was not getting better. This patient was unable to be weaned off the ventilator and required restraints and mitts to prevent her from pulling out other tubes and she seemed to be in a constant psychotic and anxious state. Jaimie took it upon herself to advocate for a psychiatric consult and would not take no for an answer. Finally, because she did not give up, Jaimie was able to get the psych consult for this patient. The psychiatrist came to see the patient and changed the medications and now this patient is alert and oriented, weaned off the ventilator and no longer requires restraints. If Jaimie did not push and advocate for her patient, despite it being difficult, we would not be looking at this whole new patient we take care of today. The difference is truly like day and night. Without Jaimie, this patient would probably still be in a bad state, while we all scratched our heads and tried to figure out how to do right for this patient.
As a night nurse for five years, I always feel a sense of great relief giving report to Jaimie when I have been unable to push something through overnight because I know that she will advocate for the patient and not stop until it gets done. She needs to be recognized for this and that is why I am nominating her for the DAISY Award.