Rebecca Watkins
October 2021
Rebecca
Watkins
,
RN
Hospice
MUSC Health Kershaw Medical Center
Camden
,
SC
United States
Rebecca cared for the patient and the spouse as if she would her own family.
Rebecca recently transitioned to the role of Case Manager for Hospice and has certainly stepped up to the plate when it comes to caring for our patients. She has taken responsibility for the General Inpatient Hospice (GIP) program and improved the quality of care for these patients. She was instrumental in assisting in updating the inpatient assessment and care plans to ensure that they are patient-centered.
Rebecca has developed and improved the relationship between the hospitalist, nursing staff, and hospice staff. She is an advocate for patient safety and assists in the safe transfer to the GIP level of care or to routine home care. If a patient fails to meet inpatient criteria, Rebecca ensures prompt follow-up and checks on the patient daily to assist in an appropriate transition of care. A defining characteristic of Rebecca is her teamwork. She is the first to call and check on other nursing care team members when productivity is low. She is always willing to precept new staff members. Rebecca reaches out and communicates to staff and attends interdisciplinary meetings when needed. Rebecca consistently has an “I Can” attitude.
One example describes Rebecca…we recently received a referral for a very difficult grieving family member reluctant to accept his wife’s failing health. Rebecca visited and was unable to help the husband understand the condition of his failing wife but continued to visit with him daily. At one point, the husband because disgruntled and rude to Rebecca. Despite this, when the patient was admitted to hospice, Rebecca cared for the patient and the spouse as if she would her own family. She took toiletries, blankets, and other items to ensure his needs were met and he was able to bathe because he would not leave his wife. She even offered to crank his car in the parking lot so the battery would not die. This is who Rebecca is…..always making the patient and family feel special because she understands that with hospice we have one chance to get it right, and Rebecca tries to get it right 100% of the time.
Rebecca has developed and improved the relationship between the hospitalist, nursing staff, and hospice staff. She is an advocate for patient safety and assists in the safe transfer to the GIP level of care or to routine home care. If a patient fails to meet inpatient criteria, Rebecca ensures prompt follow-up and checks on the patient daily to assist in an appropriate transition of care. A defining characteristic of Rebecca is her teamwork. She is the first to call and check on other nursing care team members when productivity is low. She is always willing to precept new staff members. Rebecca reaches out and communicates to staff and attends interdisciplinary meetings when needed. Rebecca consistently has an “I Can” attitude.
One example describes Rebecca…we recently received a referral for a very difficult grieving family member reluctant to accept his wife’s failing health. Rebecca visited and was unable to help the husband understand the condition of his failing wife but continued to visit with him daily. At one point, the husband because disgruntled and rude to Rebecca. Despite this, when the patient was admitted to hospice, Rebecca cared for the patient and the spouse as if she would her own family. She took toiletries, blankets, and other items to ensure his needs were met and he was able to bathe because he would not leave his wife. She even offered to crank his car in the parking lot so the battery would not die. This is who Rebecca is…..always making the patient and family feel special because she understands that with hospice we have one chance to get it right, and Rebecca tries to get it right 100% of the time.