Laura is a new grad barely out of orientation. She has gone above and beyond to reach out to the patients and truly understands that illness affects the caregivers as well. I have received many compliments from the patients about her diligence, her unhurried attitude, and her involvement in all aspects of care. Laura does not hesitate to take to the bathroom, feed or turn a patient while delivering high quality of care. As a new nurse, this is a skill that you don't see often as new nurses tend to be task-oriented for a while.
What impressed me the most, is an incident that happened this weekend. We had a patient with acute depression who was having a hard time opening up, talking with and interacting with the staff. No one was sure of what was going on with the patient. Since we could not obtain a personal care attendant for the patient, the staff took turns staying in the room. As we often do, they used that time to chart and catch up with their work. However, Laura actually talked to the patient and shared at such a personal level, that the patient opened up to her. The patient was subsequently medicated and given the appropriate resources to get help upon discharge.
To those without a nursing background, this may seem like no big deal, but the mentally ill are often undertreated, stigmatized, and misunderstood. This young nurse showed us how to care, how to get involved, and how you can potentially save a patient's life.
Laura truly made a big difference!