When you think of a nurse there are many attributes that come to mind. A nurse should be compassionate, and respectful. A nurse should be their patients' advocate, their confidant, a counselor and a mentor. Shannon embodies these special qualities and makes the nursing field proud.
During her time at the Medical University of South Carolina, we have seen her care for patients as if they are her family members. Shannon is collaborative, always taking the time to create conversations among the multidisciplinary teams to ensure her patient's needs are first. When she is talking with her patients, they have often stated they feel heard and listened to. The business of healthcare does not impact her care and her patients know they can depend on her. She is a nurse with loyalty and drive.
Recently a patient was being sent home on hospice care. The family visited the floor and did not understand what hospice care was and grew emotional. Shannon patiently talked to them about hospice and what it entailed. Shannon also made sure the case manager, physician, and home hospice provider were all on the same page. This collaboration ensured the family felt at ease and confident when they went home.
On our unit, we recently had a patient who was given a terminal diagnosis of cancer. The diagnosis was made on admission, allowing for a range of emotions from the patient. Shannon worked diligently with the physicians, palliative care and hospice to make sure this patient was informed. The patient deteriorated quickly and was unable to leave the hospital. Her gentle care ensured that she knew what the patient wanted because she had taken the time to get to know him. Shannon listened to his hopes and needs regarding his final days and hours of life. She advocated for accurate pain meds, she welcomed family as they arrived at the hospital, she made her patient comfortable as he was dying. Shannon spent a lot of time advocating for this patient.