Pam Yust is a member of the float pool that supports ASLMC, and was staffing in the CICU one day when she made a difference in the life of one of her patients. Pam is a special nurse, who somehow finds a way to connect deeply with patients, despite the fact that float pool nurses usually only work with patients for one shift at a time.
Pam's patient had end-stage pulmonary hypertension and end-stage cardiomyopathy, and was going to be transferred to Zilber Hospice when a bed was available. In report, Pam had been told that the patient was crabby and rude. While caring for the patient, Pam entered the room while he was on the phone, and overheard him talking about his dog. Pam noticed that the patient's voice quivered a little while he was asking his niece for an update on the dog, she knew that the niece was the patient's only family member, and she made it her goal that day to coordinate a visit from the patient's dog.
Pam started by calling the patient's niece. The patient's niece informed Pam that the dog, a 65 pound Brittany spaniel, was currently being boarded. Pam then contacted the boarding facility in order to verify that the dog's shots were up to date. The worker at the boarding facility told Pam that she had just thrown away the dog's immunization record. Pam kindly explained the situation to the worker, and asked if the worker would be willing to retrieve the record from the trash in order to facilitate the dog's visit. The worker agreed, and was able to locate the record. Pam then called the niece back, and arranged for the niece to pick the dog up from the boarding facility and bring him to the CICU to visit the patient.
Before the end of Pam's shift, she witnessed the power of her actions, as she watched the patient cry joyful tears while his dog lay next to him in his hospital bed. Pam touched this patient's life in a special way by going over and above her "normal" nursing duties. She is an extraordinary nurse.