Reese has been an RN in the Progressive Care Unit since August of 2007 when he was hired out of the New Graduate Internship. He is also cross trained into the Intensive Care Unit, and serves as a primary preceptor in PCU for new nurses and nurses in the Internship.
Reese is clinically an excellent practitioner. His clinical performance is exemplary. However, the focus of this nomination is on Reese’s interpersonal skills and caring that he shows his patients. Reese has received many Catch-Me’s in his career. I will highlight one of them below, and share comments from an email from a co-worker about the care that Reese provided another patient that went above and beyond expectations.
Reese received a Catch Me in August from a patient’s daughter-in-law. She said that Reese was her father-in-law’s nurse and he was also precepting one of the New Graduate Interns that day. Her father-in-law was in PCU for CHF. She said that Reese provided excellent care to the patient, so much so that her father-in-law thought that he was the only patient that Reese had. She said that her dad “shared stories” with Reese and that he “listened” to him. She felt that Reese “showed caring and superior knowledge and performance”. She suggested that Reese train all of our new nursing staff because he was quote “AMAZING”. This type of comment about Reese is not uncommon at all. I have listened from the hallway as he is talking to patients. He listens, he expresses genuine empathy, and sincerely asks them how they are feeling both physically and emotionally. He truly sees the patient as a “whole” and cares for their body while supporting them emotionally through their hospitalization.
The second interaction was actually relayed to me from one of our relief charge nurses about Reese. One of Reese’s patients was a gentleman going through alcohol withdrawal. The patient actually had a bedside assistant to help try to keep him safe and in his room. The patient became agitated and pushed his way out of the room past the bedside assistant. Reese began following trying to get the patient to come back to his room. Reese and the bedside assistant both got on the elevator with the patient again, to try to talk him back. Security was called and met them in the lobby. However, the patient ignored all attempts to keep him in the hospital. He went out the door with Reese and security following. He continued to ignore all attempts. Security called the police and went back to the hospital. Reese continued following the patient, down Miller Street to ensure his safety. The police came and were able to bring the patient back to the Emergency Dept. Reese met the patient in the ED and was able to bring the patient safely back up to his room. This was all happening at the end of the shift 1800-1900, a time that is very busy for the RN finishing out the day. As a result of Reese’s actions, the patient continued in the hospital which was what the MD wanted and truly was best for the patient. It was gratifying to see the patient the next week, up ambulating with his IV pole, alert, oriented and visiting a friend on another floor.
These are just two examples of why I feel Reese is an excellent candidate for the DAISY Award. We are very fortunate to have him as a part of Central Washington Hospital.