Maureen Laffick
November 2022
Maureen
Laffick
,
BSN,RN, CCRN, CPEN
Pediatric Emergency Department
Orlando Health Arnold Palmer Hospital for Children/Winnie Palmer Hospital for Women and Babies
Orlando
,
FL
United States
Maureen showed nothing but care and compassion for me and I felt like I trusted her with my life.
I was bought into the Emergency room after being hit by a car. The handover information she had been given was just to get me stood up then I would be discharged as she had been told that it was just a bang I had suffered. Maureen asked me if I was able to get up, at this point, I couldn't even sit up. Maureen could see that I was really trying but just couldn't do it due to the pain. Maureen realized that something wasn't right as I could not move my right leg. I explained to her the areas of my body that were hurting me and she listened very carefully to what I was saying and went and got the doctor who then came to see me. They then arranged for other parts of my body that hadn't been x-rayed to be x-rayed and further tests for me. I finally felt listened to.
It turned out that I had 3 breaks in my pelvis, an 8.7cm liver laceration and another 2cm laceration, and also a fractured finger. Had it not been for Maureen's quick thinking, knowledge and experience, and collaboration with the doctor, I would have been on a flight back to the UK as I was due to fly that evening, and dread to think what might have happened to me. Maureen then cared for me for the rest of the day and bandaged up all my road rash injuries for me. Maureen showed nothing but care and compassion for me and I felt like I trusted her with my life. I honestly feel that if it wasn't for Maureen coming on duty when she was, I don't know where I would be today and how much worse my injuries would have been if she hadn't picked up on them. She showed shared leadership and quality outcome.
I feel very lucky that Maureen came on shift that morning and feel she may have saved my life. Even though a previous Doctor had cleared me to be discharged, thanks to Maureen the full extent of my injuries were discovered and I then spent 3 nights in special care and 2 nights in the pediatric unit. Maureen came with me when I was transferred to special care and reassured me that everything was going to be okay now and I was in good hands with everybody in special care. Maureen went above and beyond for me, and I will always be grateful and never forget her.
It turned out that I had 3 breaks in my pelvis, an 8.7cm liver laceration and another 2cm laceration, and also a fractured finger. Had it not been for Maureen's quick thinking, knowledge and experience, and collaboration with the doctor, I would have been on a flight back to the UK as I was due to fly that evening, and dread to think what might have happened to me. Maureen then cared for me for the rest of the day and bandaged up all my road rash injuries for me. Maureen showed nothing but care and compassion for me and I felt like I trusted her with my life. I honestly feel that if it wasn't for Maureen coming on duty when she was, I don't know where I would be today and how much worse my injuries would have been if she hadn't picked up on them. She showed shared leadership and quality outcome.
I feel very lucky that Maureen came on shift that morning and feel she may have saved my life. Even though a previous Doctor had cleared me to be discharged, thanks to Maureen the full extent of my injuries were discovered and I then spent 3 nights in special care and 2 nights in the pediatric unit. Maureen came with me when I was transferred to special care and reassured me that everything was going to be okay now and I was in good hands with everybody in special care. Maureen went above and beyond for me, and I will always be grateful and never forget her.