March 2021
Ruth
Davis
,
RN, BSN, CPN
3 West Specialty Pediatrics
Dayton Children's Hospital
Ruth exemplified the qualities that every nurse should strive to develop, from her advocacy skills to her clinical knowledge and her compassion and devotion to the family and patient.
Ruth Davis cared for a patient during an extremely difficult time for the patient/family. The patient's status was declining, and a PRT had already been previously called by nursing with the decision made for this patient to remain on the floor. This nurse knew that something was not right with the patient as she had cared for them the night before, gotten to know them and their family, and knew that the way the patient was behaving was not normal.
Ruth stepped up and continued to fight and advocate for this patient and family to physicians on both their own floor and the critical care team. Another PRT was called by her with the support of the other nurses on the unit, the charge nurse, and the night resource manager. She demonstrated both clinical excellence by having the wisdom and skill to know that the patient needed a higher level of care, and also compassion by being an advocate for parents who were scared and needed answers that they were not getting. By using her voice and clinical skills to ensure this patient's care was escalated immediately, Ruth allowed the family extra time with the patient they may not have otherwise gotten and allowed for the additional members of the care team who were needed to get involved in the patient's care.
Ruth exemplified the qualities that every nurse should strive to develop, from her advocacy skills to her clinical knowledge and her compassion and devotion to the family and patient. As the nurse who received the patient in the ICU from Ruth and witnessed her advocacy during the PRT, I was inspired by her ability to fight for her patient and to use her voice to speak up when she knew something wasn't right. I hope to one day follow the example set by Ruth if I ever find myself in the type of situation she found herself in. She truly embodied the Dayton Children's value of going Above and Beyond for this patient and their family, and I hope she realizes the impact she had on not only this patient and their family but also the nurses around her who witnessed her fighting for her patient and were inspired by her courage and advocacy.
Ruth stepped up and continued to fight and advocate for this patient and family to physicians on both their own floor and the critical care team. Another PRT was called by her with the support of the other nurses on the unit, the charge nurse, and the night resource manager. She demonstrated both clinical excellence by having the wisdom and skill to know that the patient needed a higher level of care, and also compassion by being an advocate for parents who were scared and needed answers that they were not getting. By using her voice and clinical skills to ensure this patient's care was escalated immediately, Ruth allowed the family extra time with the patient they may not have otherwise gotten and allowed for the additional members of the care team who were needed to get involved in the patient's care.
Ruth exemplified the qualities that every nurse should strive to develop, from her advocacy skills to her clinical knowledge and her compassion and devotion to the family and patient. As the nurse who received the patient in the ICU from Ruth and witnessed her advocacy during the PRT, I was inspired by her ability to fight for her patient and to use her voice to speak up when she knew something wasn't right. I hope to one day follow the example set by Ruth if I ever find myself in the type of situation she found herself in. She truly embodied the Dayton Children's value of going Above and Beyond for this patient and their family, and I hope she realizes the impact she had on not only this patient and their family but also the nurses around her who witnessed her fighting for her patient and were inspired by her courage and advocacy.