November 2021
Korolina P
Rusnak
,
RN
KP AACC Sacramento
KP Sacramento Appointment and Advice Call Center
Sacramento
,
CA
United States
Korolina was empathetic and expressed concern for the patient’s symptoms.
This was a 45 y/o F calling for left leg swelling, pain, numbness, and tingling. She had called in earlier that day for similar symptoms and had a TAV with the doctor who ordered an US of the leg and an IB for the pain. She is calling back for worsening leg pain and mentions she also has left-sided chest pain that started last night but has increased in intensity and frequency today. Korolina clarified that the patient did not discuss the chest pain during the earlier TAV with the TCMD. Korolina used the Chest Pain protocol and asked about pertinent health history which the patient denied. Korolina did an amazing job focusing in on the chest pain and the associated symptoms that accompanied these episodes, including SOB that made the patient feel as if she were “suffocating”. The chest pain was non-exertional but radiated to her L shoulder and arm and made it difficult to take a deep breath. Korolina was empathetic and expressed concern for the patient’s symptoms and placed the patient on hold while she consulted with the CCMD. Korolina gave a thorough and accurate SBAR and recommended the ED and the CCMD agreed. The patient arrived at the ED and had lab work, an US of her left leg, and a CTA of the chest. The US revealed a left common femoral vein DVT and the CTA was positive for a pulmonary embolism. The patient was started on anticoagulants and discharged home. I would like to recognize Korolina for her thorough assessment and SBAR as well as for not anchoring her outcome to the TAV earlier that day.