A patient was admitted to ICU at the change of shift. LaQuinta Roberts, RN received the patient and performed the admission assessment. The patient was confused and in obvious pain. During the assessment, LaQuinta discovered pulses were absent to the patient's right lower extremity. This was unrelated to the patient's presentation of abdominal pain. LaQuinta immediately called the attending physician, vascular studies were ordered STAT. It was discovered complete arterial occlusion. The patient was sent to OR at 01:00 for embolectomy and endardectomy of the right lower extremity - a medical emergency.

The patient has been seen by two physicians prior to this discovery, but it was LaQuinta's extraordinary clinical assessment that this potentially life-threatening condition was found.