Jorge Romero
December 2022
Jorge
Romero
,
BSN, RN
Clinical Resource Office
Henry Ford Hospital
Harper Woods
,
MI
That whole night, Jorge was readily available and present whenever we needed him.
I am nominating Jorge for a DAISY Nurse Leader award due to his exemplary integrity, kindness, and dedication to supporting staff at our main campus hospital. I have noticed that Jorge makes a sincere effort to get to know the hospital staff. On several occasions, as he is doing rounds, I witnessed him engaged in conversation or simply asking staff if there is anything he can help us with. While this may seem like a ''normal'' thing to do, this shows his colleagues that he is approachable and available. More than anything, I trust Jorge. Being in a leadership position does not automatically grant one trust; it must be earned. I believe that this leader is an asset to Henry Ford Health and displays the characteristics of a Nurse Leader embodying HFH mission and values. One example of Jorge’s extraordinary leadership can be seen in the following story.
MICU admitted a 21-year-old who experienced a post-arrest fentanyl overdose. She had been found down at home by family and had a >30min downtime. Her significant other had been found down with her and was declared deceased on the scene. We found out later that they had a 1.5-month-old baby together. By the time the patient got to us, she was on 4 pressors and in multi-organ failure. Her mother was her primary spokesperson, and she was Spanish-speaking only. She had two other family members there who were also Spanish speaking. I didn't know who was house manager that night, but I called to ask if there were any Spanish-speaking staff on that could help interpret for a goals of care conversation. To my relief, Jorge answered and offered to come interpret.
He was at the bedside within a couple of minutes and quickly developed an obvious rapport with the family. They had a long goals of care conversation during which the family elected to keep the patient full code. Before he left, Jorge asked us to not hesitate if we needed him to come to interpret again. He made sure the MDs had his number as well. A short time later, we started the patient on dialysis, and she lost pulses. Jorge was called and again was at the bedside within a couple of minutes.
The family stayed in the room for the code and the physician repeatedly stepped back to update them on what we were doing and what her response was. Jorge sat with the family, not only interpreting for the physician but answering the family's questions, talking with them, and comforting them. You could see how much of a difference it made for the mom to have someone who understood her and whom she could truly understand. In the end, the physician called the code after about 40 minutes and Jorge had been there, with the family, the whole time. He stayed on the unit while we gave the family some time and space to grieve, and he again interpreted when it came time for the autopsy and disposition forms.
That whole night, Jorge was readily available and present whenever we needed him. He was professional and caring and he went above and beyond for the family. I cannot imagine what that mother went through that night, and I don't want to. But I know that her pain and confusion were eased a bit by having someone who quite literally spoke her language and I am so thankful that Jorge was on that night.
Following this young patient’s passing the code team was called to MICU POD 3 hallway, this time for the patient's mother. Overwhelmed with grief, she had passed out and been lowered to the floor by other family members present. On arrival, Jorge was speaking in Spanish to the patient's mother assessing her for injuries and offering to escort her to the ER. Jorge had developed a strong rapport with the family having been involved throughout the night supporting them in this difficult time. Jorge advocated for her expressed wish to be allowed to go home to the code team with admirable quiet strength.
Jorge helped her to a wheelchair and escorted her to the 24-hour entrance then waited with her while the family brought the car to pick her up. He went above and beyond in all the right ways to support this person's needs, ensure her safety and protect her rights on this unimaginably difficult day. Jorge exemplified empathetic, compassionate, and client-centered care. This is just one example of why Jorge is a DAISY Nurse Leader.
MICU admitted a 21-year-old who experienced a post-arrest fentanyl overdose. She had been found down at home by family and had a >30min downtime. Her significant other had been found down with her and was declared deceased on the scene. We found out later that they had a 1.5-month-old baby together. By the time the patient got to us, she was on 4 pressors and in multi-organ failure. Her mother was her primary spokesperson, and she was Spanish-speaking only. She had two other family members there who were also Spanish speaking. I didn't know who was house manager that night, but I called to ask if there were any Spanish-speaking staff on that could help interpret for a goals of care conversation. To my relief, Jorge answered and offered to come interpret.
He was at the bedside within a couple of minutes and quickly developed an obvious rapport with the family. They had a long goals of care conversation during which the family elected to keep the patient full code. Before he left, Jorge asked us to not hesitate if we needed him to come to interpret again. He made sure the MDs had his number as well. A short time later, we started the patient on dialysis, and she lost pulses. Jorge was called and again was at the bedside within a couple of minutes.
The family stayed in the room for the code and the physician repeatedly stepped back to update them on what we were doing and what her response was. Jorge sat with the family, not only interpreting for the physician but answering the family's questions, talking with them, and comforting them. You could see how much of a difference it made for the mom to have someone who understood her and whom she could truly understand. In the end, the physician called the code after about 40 minutes and Jorge had been there, with the family, the whole time. He stayed on the unit while we gave the family some time and space to grieve, and he again interpreted when it came time for the autopsy and disposition forms.
That whole night, Jorge was readily available and present whenever we needed him. He was professional and caring and he went above and beyond for the family. I cannot imagine what that mother went through that night, and I don't want to. But I know that her pain and confusion were eased a bit by having someone who quite literally spoke her language and I am so thankful that Jorge was on that night.
Following this young patient’s passing the code team was called to MICU POD 3 hallway, this time for the patient's mother. Overwhelmed with grief, she had passed out and been lowered to the floor by other family members present. On arrival, Jorge was speaking in Spanish to the patient's mother assessing her for injuries and offering to escort her to the ER. Jorge had developed a strong rapport with the family having been involved throughout the night supporting them in this difficult time. Jorge advocated for her expressed wish to be allowed to go home to the code team with admirable quiet strength.
Jorge helped her to a wheelchair and escorted her to the 24-hour entrance then waited with her while the family brought the car to pick her up. He went above and beyond in all the right ways to support this person's needs, ensure her safety and protect her rights on this unimaginably difficult day. Jorge exemplified empathetic, compassionate, and client-centered care. This is just one example of why Jorge is a DAISY Nurse Leader.