melanie alvarado, RN

Melanie was asked by the BPMA to look at a 19-year-old patient who wasn't feeling well. She quickly assessed the patient and reviewed his chart, where she read that he had been seen 2 weeks prior for excessive thirst. As a knowledgeable nurse, she recognized that the patient's heart rate of 140, ill appearance and thirst were all signs of diabetes. She quickly requested an order for a blood sugar check which read 470. After consulting with a doctor, she transported the patient to the ED. He was then admitted to the ICU. It was Melanie's quick actions and assessment that potentially saved this young man's life.