Tia is a compassionate human being, is so thoughtful, and is an intelligent resource to staff, patients, and families. The following is just one example how the qualities that make Tia such a good nurse were used to not only provide quality care, but to ensure all persons caring for the patient provided compassionate, ethical, and quality care. The dedication of her convictions will be will illustrated in this story which will also describe how her tenacity and uncompromised focus on the needs of the patient enhanced an individual human being's quality of life. Tia accomplished her goal of advocating for the patient while maintaining respect for all persons involved but fully embracing that the patient was the reason we were all here and the patient's needs were to be considered first, put first, and advocated for.
Ms. X was admitted through the ED for a dislocation of a hip prosthetic. This dislocation was the second in a little over a week. The first dislocation was treated at an outside facility where they "popped" the prosthetic back into the joint, put her in a brace that had a poor fit that went circumferentially around the trunk and around the affected hip, and told her to follow up with her orthopedist. Before she made it to her orthopedist, the joint dislocated again and she was brought to Nebraska Medicine Bellevue.
Once again, orthopedic staff "popped" the joint back into place and documented the need for this issue to be definitively dealt with at the main campus. Tia had no orders for transfer or notes describing discharge plan for transfer. So, Tia and Ms. X waited. Several providers came by and validated the need for definitive resolution and that resolution would occur at main campus - but no one gave her any specifics. Ms. X became tearful and Tia was there to provide comfort and Tia listened. She listened to Ms. X describe fear of what could happen during the procedure, frustration over what had already happened, and concern that nobody wanted to help her. Tia comforted the patient and assured her she would look into the delay in transfer.
Then, Tia did it. She called providers, facilitated conversations, and continued to thoughtfully and mindfully remind the providers that the patient was scared and anxious to move forward. When Tia encountered resistance, she didn't back down. She simply reminded them that the patient came first and this patient needed to transfer to get the care she needed. Tia called providers, administration, and compliance contacts to accomplish a seamless and appropriate transfer. Throughout Tia's efforts she kept the patient updated and secure. She provided Ms. X with the security of a caregiver that didn't simply tell her that she would take good care of her, but demonstrated it.