Rechelle Rhodus
February 2020
Rechelle
Rhodus
,
RN
Trauma and Acute Care Surgery Services
UK HealthCare
Lexington
,
KY
United States
Rikki wasn't scheduled to work Thanksgiving but worked it out with her own family to come in and help create this experience for C.
It is with pleasure I write this Daisy nomination on behalf of J in J's words "an exceptional nurse" that has and continues to provide care during C's stays on our floor. C's journey began when she was admitted for vascular complications which ended with bilateral above-the-knee amputations.
During this initial stay, Rikki was C's primary nurse but her care didn't stop with C, she was always taking care of J too. When Rikki wasn't C's nurse she was always checking in to support each of them and assist with her care. One day C was wanting different scenery. Rikki worked closely with respiratory therapy and they were able to take her outside on a warm day. Both C and J were so happy they were able to spend time together outside of the room for a moment of "normalcy". Her stay was complicated but was able to discharge to a long-term care facility.
C was re-admitted one door down from her old room only 9 days after she was discharged. J never left his wife's side and Rikki was always there to support him as well as C. The holidays were coming and C had already missed a planned vacation to Florida and spent her birthday in the hospital. Rikki recruited some help and came in on her day off to decorate C's room for Christmas the week before Thanksgiving, and she brought them pizza from Joe Bologna's for lunch. Rikki learned that C's children and grandchildren would be traveling in for the holiday. She took it upon herself to coordinate with Respiratory Therapy, Physical Therapy, the physician team, and J to surprise C with a family Thanksgiving dinner.
Rikki wasn't scheduled to work Thanksgiving but worked it out with her own family to come in and help create this experience for C and her family felt this was important for the patient too and if she was late it was OK! Rikki came in and decorated the room with items her mother provided, the family brought their favorite Thanksgiving dishes, Rikki helped with C's bath, and the team got her in the chair and transported her to the classroom for her Thanksgiving surprise! C was only able to sit outside her room for about 30 minutes, but she and the family were so appreciative of the time they were able to have together at the table for Thanksgiving. They took some family photos and were given a little bit of 'normal' within the chaos of being a patient.
J stated that Rikki has "become a friend to us, she is just an exceptional person and nurse". While it was a joint effort among several disciplines and staff, Rikki was instrumental in providing this experience for C. Mahatma Gandhi once said, "The best way to find yourself is to lose yourself in the service of others." Rikki serves her patients with selfless kindness and compassion. She cares with her whole heart, identifying individual needs and ultimately making a difference in the lives of the people who are lucky enough to have her as their nurse.
During this initial stay, Rikki was C's primary nurse but her care didn't stop with C, she was always taking care of J too. When Rikki wasn't C's nurse she was always checking in to support each of them and assist with her care. One day C was wanting different scenery. Rikki worked closely with respiratory therapy and they were able to take her outside on a warm day. Both C and J were so happy they were able to spend time together outside of the room for a moment of "normalcy". Her stay was complicated but was able to discharge to a long-term care facility.
C was re-admitted one door down from her old room only 9 days after she was discharged. J never left his wife's side and Rikki was always there to support him as well as C. The holidays were coming and C had already missed a planned vacation to Florida and spent her birthday in the hospital. Rikki recruited some help and came in on her day off to decorate C's room for Christmas the week before Thanksgiving, and she brought them pizza from Joe Bologna's for lunch. Rikki learned that C's children and grandchildren would be traveling in for the holiday. She took it upon herself to coordinate with Respiratory Therapy, Physical Therapy, the physician team, and J to surprise C with a family Thanksgiving dinner.
Rikki wasn't scheduled to work Thanksgiving but worked it out with her own family to come in and help create this experience for C and her family felt this was important for the patient too and if she was late it was OK! Rikki came in and decorated the room with items her mother provided, the family brought their favorite Thanksgiving dishes, Rikki helped with C's bath, and the team got her in the chair and transported her to the classroom for her Thanksgiving surprise! C was only able to sit outside her room for about 30 minutes, but she and the family were so appreciative of the time they were able to have together at the table for Thanksgiving. They took some family photos and were given a little bit of 'normal' within the chaos of being a patient.
J stated that Rikki has "become a friend to us, she is just an exceptional person and nurse". While it was a joint effort among several disciplines and staff, Rikki was instrumental in providing this experience for C. Mahatma Gandhi once said, "The best way to find yourself is to lose yourself in the service of others." Rikki serves her patients with selfless kindness and compassion. She cares with her whole heart, identifying individual needs and ultimately making a difference in the lives of the people who are lucky enough to have her as their nurse.