May 2009
Kayce
Daugherty
,
RN
SICU
The Christ Hospital Health Network
Cincinnati
,
OH
United States

 

 

 

The morning of April 17th was an especially busy one in the SICU. Several of the patients were critial and had coded or were close to code situations. One patient was a particular challenge. The patient had significant chronic medical, post-op and mental health issues. The nurse assigned this patient was busy helping to put in lines on other recently admitted patients. Kayce stepped in to offer her assistance and without being asked and continued to coordinate the care of this young patient throughout the morning and early afternoon until he returned to the OR for emergent surgery. Caring for this patient was no small task as it involved dealing with patient safety issues, post op bleeding, an impaired family member sna repeated threats to leave against medical advice. Kayce calmly dealt with allthese issues as a true professional. She worked hard to meet not only his physical needs but to develop a rapport with him so that he would agree to receive the care he needed. Kayce easily could have become frustrated, shore tempered or remove herself from teh situation as this patient was not "assigned" to her. Instead she was a persistent patient advocate and truly impacted the care of this patient in a positive way. Kayce is a team plyaer, preceptor and a role model in the unit. For all these reasons, she is a great asset to the SICU.