Pam had a patient with autism and also a rare immune system problem, which has required him to have blood transfusions every four weeks for the last four years. The mother explained that her son is a difficult case, not only because of his autism but because he has had allergic reactions to blood products in the past and is also a hard stick.
Once Pam became his assigned nurse, "That was the first time I had hope," the mother said. Pam has been the son's assigned nurse since his second month of transfusions and she has worked very hard to learn about his autism and helps him to understand what's happening to him.
For the hard sticks, Pam figured out that heat makes the blood vessels expand and easier to stick. "That may sound like something little," the mother said, "but it's really not because being stuck only once, opposed to five or six times makes a huge difference." The mother said that Pam has always been professional and treats everyone like they are family.
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Pam is described by her peers as humble and an asset to Midland Memorial Hospital. She is always willing to help and goes above and beyond when it comes to her patients' care. One co-worker said she is honored to work with Pam.
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Pam's clinical manager said she is an experienced, strong nurse with the desire to do what's best for her patients. Pam is compassionate and caring. She explained that the Outpatient Treatment Center sees a varied patient population with patients receiving chemotherapy or blood products, to patients needing monthly IVIG infusions, to patients needing daily antibiotics. Each patient is unique and Pam is able to adapt her care for each patient depending on their needs. Because of Pam's compassionate and caring efforts, her patients experience a level of care that exemplifies the impact nurses have in creating an environment where patients and families feel at home.