Sam has been the primary nurse for a patient who is Mandarin-speaking only and has been struggling with nausea control throughout treatment. To better connect with the patient, Sam had researched different Mandarin phrases so they could communicate directly with one another.
Sam has gone above and beyond to ensure that the patient understands his chemotherapy regimen and how to manage the side effects, so he is successful with his treatment. She also sat with the patient to talk about his nutrition. Many of the food options offered by the hospital did not appeal to him. This led Sam to look into alternative options for the patient while he is admitted. She coordinated with different care teams to ensure that since visitor restrictions are still in place, his family will be able to drop off food for him once he admits to the hospital.
After his first day of chemotherapy, the patient presented to the clinic with acute nausea. Sam worked diligently with the patient and provider team to ensure that the patient had the right antiemetics on board to be successful with treatment. She also provided additional education and resources to schedule medications to prevent nausea in the future.
This morning she approached me, saying she had been thinking of the patient last night and was brainstorming different ways to help. Sam has embodied our mission of caring like family and this situation has made it especially evident. I am so proud to work along with Sam. Her compassion, thoughtfulness, and kindness are truly inspiring.
Sam, thank you for raising the bar and providing amazing care to our patients.