Jen received a patient from OR who had a routine hernia repair, but also had a significant cardiac history (7 stents placed, the most recent being 14 months prior). Jen always takes special care of her patients and right away she noticed the patient had EKG changes. Immediately, Jen notified the charge nurse, paged anesthesia and the surgeon, and got a cardiology consult. The labs, EKG, and cardiology resident confirmed that the patient was having an active MI and needed to be taken emergently to the cath lab. Jen kept a level head the whole time. She knew what needed to be done and did it, while at the same time comforting the patient who was stating how scared she was the whole time. Jen is the one who was reassuring the patient and explaining what was going to happen.

Jen went above and beyond to make sure that her patient had the best fighting chance; getting Aspirin, attaching the defibrillating pads and attaching the patient to the emergency monitor for transport, she also got her emergency/cardiac meds for transport as well. Once we made it to the cath lab, the patient coded and Jen was the nurse that was running around grabbing supplies and performing CPR, even though the cath lab is not where she normally works. I was in awe at how well her emergency response was. She did everything within her power to save the patient.

Also, the surgeon was not available to talk to the family because he was in another surgery, so Jen volunteered to go and talk to the patient's daughter. She wanted to make sure that she was informed on the status of the patient and knew what was going on with her mother. I thought this showed extreme compassion and empathy. Jen refused to leave her patient's side the entire time that the interventional cardiologists were working on her patient because she knew the most about the patient; past medical history, complaints, and the progression of her deteriorating state.

As a senior nursing student at OSU, I was so impressed and inspired by the skill level and quality of nursing care that Jen presented for her patient in an emergency situation. Not only in that situation where she went above and beyond, but in her everyday care of patients in the PACU. Throughout the entire process, Jen kept a level head and put the patient first. She can truly say that she did everything she could to save the patient.