I was informed of an unfortunate situation in which Traci Seymour led her team by example and showed nursing as her vocation. Traci was the charge nurse that day and the ED was informed that they were to receive a patient who had passed away at the scene from a traumatic car accident. The patient was young and had drowned as a result of the accident. The family was on their way but unaware of the patient's status.
Traci worked with the patient care supervisor to arrange for the family to view their child in one of the ED rooms instead of in the morgue which is the protocol. Traci arranged for the team to clean up the child and make him look presentable for his family who was severely unprepared for the situation. The family was able to see their child without any trauma, appearing as if he was instead sleeping. Traci led the ED team to make this family's experience a little less traumatic which showed respect and deep caring towards this family. Even when I thanked Traci for leading the team and making this a priority, she continued to remind me of how much the team helped.
A clinical manager from Sentara Barco sent an email saying one of their patients was sent to the ED from the general surgeon's office for a hypotensive episode. Traci contacted Sentara Barco to obtain a full report on the patient's history and current situation. Part of what was discussed was a need for wound care. Traci advocated for the patient and brought to the attention of the doctor that the patient needed a wound care consult while in the hospital despite the patient coming in for "near syncope."
Please know that I am grateful and proud to have had the opportunity to speak to Traci and witness for myself the obvious compassion she has for the patient. Traci didn't let the patient's chief complaint overshadow the fact that this patient required wound care as well. She acknowledged the continuum of care and identified the appropriate resources necessary to advocate for this patient and ensure he received all of the care he needed.