There was a critically ill patient located in the ICU. The team was working diligently to stabilize the patient enough for transport to an outside facility for him to be able to get the higher level of care he needed. The patient was very sick and unstable, experiencing a significant GI bleed. This, along with his significant medical history and fragility, put him at incredibly high risk.

The ICU nursing team transfused him with multiple units of blood products to help his falling pressures and to replace the volume he was losing. All the while, others were working to find an accepting facility that they could get him to in a reasonable amount of time. Christiana was full, and St Francis was not answering. Philadelphia VA seemed to be the best option. The paramedics asked for extra support from nurses, considering how unstable the patient was, how much support he may have needed in transport and the fact that blood products were transfusing during transport as well. I reached out to this team member, knowing this employee was working in the ED, and asked the employee if the employee would be comfortable transporting the patient with the paramedic team. This staff member agreed to do so without hesitation. The employee went immediately to the ICU to assess the patient. With the support and coordination of leadership and the team onsite in the hospital, arrangements were made, and the patient was successfully transported to the Philadelphia VA.

I would like to recognize this staff member for her willingness to step outside of the box and do what was best for the patient at the time. The staff member is clinically excellent. This employee is willing to be flexible and creative when faced with obstacles, and the employee is incredibly dedicated to nursing and the veterans in her care. Even though transport is not a daily part of our duties in the Emergency Department, this employee was more than willing to ensure this veteran got the care he needed. Without this employee's actions, the veteran may not have gotten the care he needed. As her manager, I am incredibly grateful this employee is on my staff. I am always impressed by this employee's knowledge and skills, along with their fantastic attitude and dedication to patients. This employee is so incredibly deserving of this recognition.