April 2023
Rebecca L
Blaskovich
,
RN, BS, TCRN
Emergency Department
Mercy Hospital
Durango
,
CO
United States

 

 

 

Becky wore the hat of an exceptional ER nurse in a pediatric trauma, as well as bonding with this very vulnerable patient and acting as child life specialist and social worker.
Becky was the primary nurse for a 2-month-old trauma activation patient in the emergency department recently. This patient was involved in a motor vehicle accident that resulted in the death of the patient's mother. The emergency department received four critical patients from that accident at about shift change. At 6 pm is when the emergency department does not have the ancillary resources that dayshift has. Becky coordinated with an L&D nurse to ensure that this patient received appropriate care for the age and injuries sustained. The chaplain was here and unable to devote his time to just one patient. Social work is not available for the ED after dayshift. Becky wore the hat of an exceptional ER nurse in a pediatric trauma, as well as bonding with this very vulnerable patient and acting as child life specialist and social worker. After the patient was "settled in," as we say in the ED, Becky swaddled him, held him, and spoke to him gently and reassuringly for 5 hours. She advocated for pain management for this tiny patient, recognizing that the injury sustained was causing pain, although he could not express that. Becky did all of this with grace and caring, and she put her own needs aside. Never complaining, never asking to take a break or even to use the restroom. I am proud to call Becky a coworker and I think she is a DAISY Nurse for going above and beyond for her patient.