Josh is one of my part-time students in the Shadyside School of Nursing program.  I remember meeting Josh for the first time and was impressed with his enthusiasm and excitement to get the day started.  As our clinical days and weeks went on, that enthusiasm and excitement never wavered. 

One of the first patients I assigned to Josh was a very complex case.  This was a houseless woman who was found down on the street.  She was not the easiest patient to care for.  She was demanding and, at times, tough to handle.  Josh got report and went in to see the patient, as are the procedures when the students come on shift.  Josh went above and beyond what is expected of a student nurse with this patient.  He did the required “stuff” - bathed her, changed her bed, set her up and assisted her to eat, gave her medications for the day, and helped the staff nurse with her leg wound care. Josh was in her room for 90% of his shift.
 
Along with her acute issues, this patient was also diagnosed with bipolar.  Her mentation and willingness to care also waxed and waned.  Josh never faltered.  He was patient and kind.  In fact, this patient referred to Josh as “Dr. Matt”!  When I was in with Josh passing medications, she became loud and demanding with Josh.  His voice remained calm and direct. He got her to refocus and calm down. He was there to care for the patient and support her.  The patient came to trust Josh.  In fact, the next weekend we were on the unit, I assigned her to Josh again.  True to form, Josh jumped right in to care for her. She remembered him and was glad he was back to take care of her.
 
This week, his patient’s leg wound had gotten worse, and she was starting to spike a fever, and her WBCs were starting to rise, both of which Josh picked up on in the morning.  He advocated to the doctors in hopes that the patient’s wound be looked at, thinking this was the source of her temperature and elevated white count. The problem was the patient was refusing a debridement of the leg, which was the only option to help her leg heal.  Josh, with support from his instructor, went in and had a long conversation with his patient. Explaining to her that unless the wound was cleaned up, the infection would become worse, and she could possibly lose her leg. That day, she agreed to have her leg debrided.  In fact, before we left for the day, the surgeon came in and did this important procedure at the bedside. I truly believe if Josh had not formed this trusting bond with his patient and advocated for her wound care with the doctors, she would never have agreed to this life-saving procedure. 

Josh understands the importance of putting the patient at the center of all we do.  He goes the extra mile with his patients. His patients trust him. He builds a caring bond with his patients.  As an instructor, I can teach skills; I can’t teach empathy and caring; Josh has that!  Josh is able to assure his patients that he cares for them and advocates for positive patient outcomes.  To date, every patient Josh has cared for while with me on 3 Pav has raved about him. Josh is also always the first one to help the staff, his peers, and his instructor. He is a leader.  Josh embodies what we want to see in our students at Shadyside School of Nursing. Josh is truly an Extraordinary Nursing Student.