Melissa was the primary nurse for a critical care patient being cared for in PACU. The patient was found to need a pacemaker. In anticipation of surgery, Melissa placed the patient on NPO status.
Initially, it was determined the pacemaker could not be added to the Cath Lab schedule for 3 days. Recognizing this would require the patient to remain in the hospital at least 2 additional days, most likely in PACU where the patient had little privacy, little quiet, no private bathroom and no TV, Melissa actively worked to get the procedure tacked on to the end of the schedule in the Cath Lab.
Because she kept the patient NPO, the procedure was done late that afternoon with the patient being discharged the next day. Because of Melissa's actions, the patient had a decreased LOS, increased patient satisfaction, decreased critical care census>win-win-win.