Kristy A Ray
October 2023
Kristy A
Ray
,
BSN, RN
Cardiac Observation Unit
Northeast Georgia Medical Center
Gainesville
,
GA
United States
Within 30 minutes of the Vascular Surgeon coming to see this patient, they were taken to the OR. All of this was due to the fact that Kristy advocated for the safety of her patient through several different physicians.
We had a patient in COU24 all week who was on bed rest until her Kyphoplasty was scheduled on Wednesday. After Kyphoplasty on Wednesday, the patient got OOB Thursday with physical therapy and ambulated around the unit with a walker with no problems. The patient was supposed to be discharged after her physical therapy evaluation on Thursday. Upon getting the patient back to bed after her PT session the patient began c/o "unable to move or feel her legs". The medical team was made aware of this new complaint by C, an RN who requested the physician come evaluate the patient.
The patient. had pulses in her legs per C, but was not able to move her legs. A CTA with abdominal run-off was ordered in the evening. Upon getting report on this patient today, Kristy Ray immediately determined that this patient. was a priority based on her complaints. During Kristy's assessment of the patient, Kristy realized that the patient's legs were cold and white in color and that the patient was still c/o, had no feeling in her legs, and was unable to move her legs. Kristy could not palpate pulses, nor could she find them with a doppler.
Kristy called the general surgeon and reported her findings, requesting an immediate assessment by the surgeon. The surgeon came with students and stated that they thought pulses were palpable. Kristy insisted to the surgeon that they were incorrect in their statement that the patient had pulses, and had the surgeon attempt to find pulses with a bedside doppler. Upon realizing that, in fact, the patient did not have pulses via Doppler in either lower extremity, the general surgeon put in a consult for Vascular surgery. Due to the emergency situation, Kristy contacted the vascular surgeon herself in order to further convey how critical time was for this patient. The vascular surgeon, understanding the gravity of the situation, immediately came to assess this patient. Within 30 minutes of the Vascular Surgeon coming to see this patient, they were taken to the OR. All of this was due to the fact that Kristy advocated for the safety of her patient through several different physicians. I do not know the outcome of this situation. But I do know that if Kristy Ray had not been the RN for this patient, the patient would still be in COU waiting for a vascular consult. I believe that we have an exceptional team of nurses here in COU. This is an example of the amazing nurses that I get to work with every day. They go above and beyond. They advocate for their patients. They make a difference.......every day!
The patient. had pulses in her legs per C, but was not able to move her legs. A CTA with abdominal run-off was ordered in the evening. Upon getting report on this patient today, Kristy Ray immediately determined that this patient. was a priority based on her complaints. During Kristy's assessment of the patient, Kristy realized that the patient's legs were cold and white in color and that the patient was still c/o, had no feeling in her legs, and was unable to move her legs. Kristy could not palpate pulses, nor could she find them with a doppler.
Kristy called the general surgeon and reported her findings, requesting an immediate assessment by the surgeon. The surgeon came with students and stated that they thought pulses were palpable. Kristy insisted to the surgeon that they were incorrect in their statement that the patient had pulses, and had the surgeon attempt to find pulses with a bedside doppler. Upon realizing that, in fact, the patient did not have pulses via Doppler in either lower extremity, the general surgeon put in a consult for Vascular surgery. Due to the emergency situation, Kristy contacted the vascular surgeon herself in order to further convey how critical time was for this patient. The vascular surgeon, understanding the gravity of the situation, immediately came to assess this patient. Within 30 minutes of the Vascular Surgeon coming to see this patient, they were taken to the OR. All of this was due to the fact that Kristy advocated for the safety of her patient through several different physicians. I do not know the outcome of this situation. But I do know that if Kristy Ray had not been the RN for this patient, the patient would still be in COU waiting for a vascular consult. I believe that we have an exceptional team of nurses here in COU. This is an example of the amazing nurses that I get to work with every day. They go above and beyond. They advocate for their patients. They make a difference.......every day!