When Sheri came to our department, it was like she had always been a part of the team. She is the bubbly, friendly, team player everyone wants to work with. Her life experiences prepared her to handle our delicate cancer patients, as well as the ability to be empathetic with a variety of other cancer patients we see. She has worked hard to hone her IV skills and educate herself to give optimal care to our special "family."
The story I am going to speak of is very close to my heart. We had a patient who came to us after being discharged from the hospital. He had a dependent history, and though only 55 years old, was not working and had no income. During his first two visits to our Outpatient Infusion Center, he was withdrawn and quiet, but Sheri quickly worked her magic. We found out he felt that, due to his personal situation, no one cared about him. During a subsequent visit, he felt that he did not have the resources he needed to succeed at home. Sheri talked with this gentleman a long time, finding out his needs, getting him food, providing a caring person who was non-judgmental and kind. On a previous visit to our center, the patient had to go back to the ED for hyperglycemia. Sheri made a personal connection with this patient and made a point to check on him several times while in the ED, and visited him again once he was on the inpatient unit during that stay. Sheri collaborated with our social worker and interdisciplinary team to assist him with home needs.
Once discharged, Sheri called and checked on him at home. She had him bring his diabetic supplies with him on the next visit so she could assure his understanding of monitoring of glucose. She checked out his supplies and realized his current glucometer had strips from 2004. The strips for this machine are very expensive. Sheri searched around for the most economical one for this patient. She was able to get this man a donated glucometer and bought the strips for the machine with her own money. She sat and educated this man on diabetes, glucose monitoring, and insulin. I have no doubt she saved this gentleman from other readmissions and possible mortality. These are two of our system goals! Sheri gave someone who did not have hope, hope. To me, that is the essence of nursing.
Sheri gave 100% for this patient. She did not give up on him and assured him that WellStar cared! At the end of his visits, he was calling us family! What a difference she made.