michele westfahl and jodi wegner, RNs

Recently, these two nurses did something truly amazing. Michel and Jodi saw an elderly patient who was placed into the Pod of the ER. Because of their vast experience, they immediately assessed that this patient had a lift threatening issue. Within seconds they had the patient on a monitor, an IV placed, and had the MD at bedside. Both Michele and Jodi flawlessly orchestrated the care of this patient as they quickly moved to CT. As the patient's heart rate dropped precariously low as did her blood pressure, Jodi obtained the medication to help raise these, as Michele held her hand and talked with the patient.
During the hour or so that the patient was in the department, there were a half dozen, maybe a dozen different doctor's and surgeon's; running in and out, shouting orders, talking with each other. But it remained Michele and Jodi who talked with the patient. This patient had tears in her eyes as Michele held her hand. One of the reasons for this is that this patient also had early dementia and did not comprehend what was going on. If it were not for Michele and Jodi and their steadfast care of this patient, things could have ended up very differently.
I can tell you after 25 years of ER experience…not many people survive coming into the ER suffering from a ruptured AAA. I can tell you also that the care of this patient and the survival of this patient happened because of these two dedicated nurses.