Josie Cottrill
February 2023
Josie
Cottrill
,
BSN, RN
8 West Rhodes Progressive Care Unit
The Ohio State Wexner Medical Center University Hospital
Columbus
,
OH
United States
She recognized Josie specifically as the one advocating for her husband stating, “Who knows what the outcome could have been if she was not here. She fought like I would have fought.”
Josie started as a new graduate nurse during the Covid-19 pandemic and has since developed into a charge nurse and preceptor, not only experiencing the trials of being a critical care nurse during a global pandemic, but the ever-changing population of patients that come through the Progressive Care Unit.
Josie was caring for a thoracic patient who underwent a procedure for their condition and was recovering in PCU. On the first shift, she was the patient’s primary RN and by all accounts, the patient seemed to be doing well without complaints of pain or complications from their procedure or condition. When Josie came back the following day as the charge nurse, she was notified by the primary nurse there was a marked difference in the patient’s presentation.
Having known the patient and after conducting a thorough assessment, she knew immediately something was off. Josie not only leaned on her own clinical judgment but listened to the patient’s partner, who is a flight nurse and took her impression into consideration for pushing for escalation of care.
Not only was the patient’s spouse present, but their 2-year-old child was also at the bedside during this time. When the decision came to call an ERT, the patient’s spouse did not want to leave her husband’s side, and Josie stepped up and offered to care for the patient’s child while the emergency response was activated. Josie spent time making a glove balloon, playing with the child’s toy cow, and playing Cocomelon videos for them on her phone while the patient was being intubated.
After the patient was transferred to the ICU, I went to check on the patient’s spouse. She was in tears as she expressed her appreciation for the diligent work of the nursing staff and Josie’s compassionate care. She recognized Josie specifically as the one advocating for her husband stating, “Who knows what the outcome could have been if she was not here. She fought like I would have fought.” Josie not only exhibited clinical expertise but demonstrated true compassion for the family, taking on childcare on her own volition as she recognized the situation at hand.
Josie was caring for a thoracic patient who underwent a procedure for their condition and was recovering in PCU. On the first shift, she was the patient’s primary RN and by all accounts, the patient seemed to be doing well without complaints of pain or complications from their procedure or condition. When Josie came back the following day as the charge nurse, she was notified by the primary nurse there was a marked difference in the patient’s presentation.
Having known the patient and after conducting a thorough assessment, she knew immediately something was off. Josie not only leaned on her own clinical judgment but listened to the patient’s partner, who is a flight nurse and took her impression into consideration for pushing for escalation of care.
Not only was the patient’s spouse present, but their 2-year-old child was also at the bedside during this time. When the decision came to call an ERT, the patient’s spouse did not want to leave her husband’s side, and Josie stepped up and offered to care for the patient’s child while the emergency response was activated. Josie spent time making a glove balloon, playing with the child’s toy cow, and playing Cocomelon videos for them on her phone while the patient was being intubated.
After the patient was transferred to the ICU, I went to check on the patient’s spouse. She was in tears as she expressed her appreciation for the diligent work of the nursing staff and Josie’s compassionate care. She recognized Josie specifically as the one advocating for her husband stating, “Who knows what the outcome could have been if she was not here. She fought like I would have fought.” Josie not only exhibited clinical expertise but demonstrated true compassion for the family, taking on childcare on her own volition as she recognized the situation at hand.