Jennifer Stevens
January 2019
Jennifer
Stevens
,
RN
HBPC
St. Cloud VA Health Care System
St. Cloud
,
MN
United States
Jennifer Stevens is a nurse that goes above and beyond to provide quality care to our Veterans. On Monday she received a call from a Veteran's wife stating that he had a fall on Saturday afternoon. The ambulance had been called, they assessed him, and he was able to ambulate, was oriented, so they agreed he could stay at home. The Veteran's wife just wanted Jen to check in on him if she could fit him into her schedule for the day. She was concerned because he wasn't quite as active as he normally had been.
I happened to be riding with Jen that day and I was his PCP. We had time in our schedule, so we stopped by. Upon arrival, it was clear to both of us that there had been a drastic change in his health. Though he only had a "rug burn" (per wife) on his head, he had slurred speech, was oriented only to self, was too weak to ambulate, and had right sided facial droop. It was apparent to both of us that immediate action had to be taken.
While I made the appropriate phone calls, filled out transfer forms and called report to the ER MD, Jennifer was a super star! She assisted the wife to dress the patient, helped the wife pack a bag for herself, directed EMS, police, and the ambulance crew. She gave the report and insured that the wife was transported to the hospital with her husband as she does not drive.
When we returned to the office some time later, we found that the patient in fact had an acute subdural hematoma that required immediate surgical evacuation. Jen was worried that the Veteran's wife may not have been able to contact family, and the nearest family was hours away. At the end of her shift, Jennifer went to the hospital, found the veteran's wife, and sat with her through the patient's surgery until the wife was able to see him in recovery. The wife had not contacted family because everything happened so fast. Jennifer offered to call the family so she could answer any questions thy may have and the wife was more than happy to have Jennifer to that. Jennifer is a role model of our ICARE philosophy and deserves to be honored.
I happened to be riding with Jen that day and I was his PCP. We had time in our schedule, so we stopped by. Upon arrival, it was clear to both of us that there had been a drastic change in his health. Though he only had a "rug burn" (per wife) on his head, he had slurred speech, was oriented only to self, was too weak to ambulate, and had right sided facial droop. It was apparent to both of us that immediate action had to be taken.
While I made the appropriate phone calls, filled out transfer forms and called report to the ER MD, Jennifer was a super star! She assisted the wife to dress the patient, helped the wife pack a bag for herself, directed EMS, police, and the ambulance crew. She gave the report and insured that the wife was transported to the hospital with her husband as she does not drive.
When we returned to the office some time later, we found that the patient in fact had an acute subdural hematoma that required immediate surgical evacuation. Jen was worried that the Veteran's wife may not have been able to contact family, and the nearest family was hours away. At the end of her shift, Jennifer went to the hospital, found the veteran's wife, and sat with her through the patient's surgery until the wife was able to see him in recovery. The wife had not contacted family because everything happened so fast. Jennifer offered to call the family so she could answer any questions thy may have and the wife was more than happy to have Jennifer to that. Jennifer is a role model of our ICARE philosophy and deserves to be honored.