First off, Kim Jones is just a fantastic nurse. She is extremely knowledgeable, caring, and compassionate to all patients. Kim is a great mentor and teacher to young nurses she works with and an asset to her team. I have had a family member that Kim has taken care of that I have always felt received the best care possible on her watch.
The event that I feel set Kim apart and inspired me to submit this application to consider her for this award occurred here at Taylorville Memorial Hospital, where I am an employee. I work as the ED Charge Nurse/House Supervisor/Code Team for the hospital at night, while Kim works in Acute Care. On this night I feel Kim displayed everything that makes nursing such a pivotal part of the health care team.
On the night the event occurred, Kim was caring for a patient that suddenly developed severe respiratory distress. She quickly recognized it and acted, calling to obtain orders that normally would have leveled the patient's condition. After 30-45 minutes Kim could tell the treatment was not working and called a rapid response that I responded to. It was apparent to me upon entering the room that the patient was moving from distress to failure, so we took the patient to the ED where we intubated her. By this time though the patient's body was so weak that her heart stopped beating. When Kim heard the code we called overhead she knew it was her patient and came down to the ED to help. We were able to successfully resuscitate the patient and then transfer the patient to a higher level of care.
Through Kim's efforts, vigilance, and constant patient advocacy we were able to save this patient's life. If she hadn't recognized the early signs and taken immediate action to obtain medications and resources that this patient desperately needed, the patient would have perished. Through constant vigilance and personal initiative to call the Rapid Response this patient would not have had a chance to be resuscitated and another shot at life.