Sanja Nikolic
August 2018
Sanja
Nikolic
,
LPN
Ambulatory Care – Foxtrot
James A. Haley VA Hospital and Clinics
Tampa
,
FL
United States
LPN Sanja Nikolic demonstrated extraordinary care to a veteran through mutual trust, respect and emotional support.
Late in the workday, Ms. Nikolic was asked by a provider (not her teamlet provider) to communicate with a veteran on the phone and to keep the veteran on the phone. The reason for the provider's request is the Veteran expressed suicidal ideations. Since this Veteran was new for LPN Nikolic and not on her assigned teamlet panel, Ms. Nikolic had to use her obtained skills from motivation interviewing and previous TMS training to keep the veteran on the phone. Ms. Nikolic was able to elicit from the Veteran his hobbies, pets and family to make a connection with the Veteran. She was able to confirm his location and encouraged the Veteran to accept assistance. She educated the Veteran that assistance would be coming to him in the form of the police department. She informed the Veteran the police were there to assist him and would bring the Veteran to the VA so he could receive the care he desired. During the call, Ms. Nikolic was using instant messaging with the provider and the psychologist to ensure she was obtaining the needed information from the Veteran.
During a staff meeting, Ms. Nikolic was encouraged to share her experience with the nursing staff on Golf and Foxtrot. She was supported by her peers who stated this Veteran rarely talks with staff and usually only communicates with few works. Her peers acknowledged Ms. Nikolic's ability to keep the Veteran talking on the phone.
Ms. Nikolic realized anyone of the nursing staff would have had difficulty with the above situation. She set up and in-service by Mental Health to review procedures/protocols to be followed by staff when receiving a call from Veterans with Suicidal ideas. She also shared how nursing can use a debriefing after a demanding situation. In Ms. Nikolic case, there was a provider and psychologist to assist in the debriefing process.
Ms. Nikolic's ability to remain calm, validate the Veteran's feelings without judgment and be supportive to the veteran assisted in providing a distraught Veteran with the care he needed.
Late in the workday, Ms. Nikolic was asked by a provider (not her teamlet provider) to communicate with a veteran on the phone and to keep the veteran on the phone. The reason for the provider's request is the Veteran expressed suicidal ideations. Since this Veteran was new for LPN Nikolic and not on her assigned teamlet panel, Ms. Nikolic had to use her obtained skills from motivation interviewing and previous TMS training to keep the veteran on the phone. Ms. Nikolic was able to elicit from the Veteran his hobbies, pets and family to make a connection with the Veteran. She was able to confirm his location and encouraged the Veteran to accept assistance. She educated the Veteran that assistance would be coming to him in the form of the police department. She informed the Veteran the police were there to assist him and would bring the Veteran to the VA so he could receive the care he desired. During the call, Ms. Nikolic was using instant messaging with the provider and the psychologist to ensure she was obtaining the needed information from the Veteran.
During a staff meeting, Ms. Nikolic was encouraged to share her experience with the nursing staff on Golf and Foxtrot. She was supported by her peers who stated this Veteran rarely talks with staff and usually only communicates with few works. Her peers acknowledged Ms. Nikolic's ability to keep the Veteran talking on the phone.
Ms. Nikolic realized anyone of the nursing staff would have had difficulty with the above situation. She set up and in-service by Mental Health to review procedures/protocols to be followed by staff when receiving a call from Veterans with Suicidal ideas. She also shared how nursing can use a debriefing after a demanding situation. In Ms. Nikolic case, there was a provider and psychologist to assist in the debriefing process.
Ms. Nikolic's ability to remain calm, validate the Veteran's feelings without judgment and be supportive to the veteran assisted in providing a distraught Veteran with the care he needed.