Before I even met Travis, I had already heard about what a tremendous nurse he was. A mutual friend had asked me if I had met him yet at my new job; I had not at that point. She went on to describe him as "such a great guy, super smart nurse, etc.; you're going to love him!"
Upon first meeting Travis on the progressive care unit, I knew immediately who he was even before he introduced himself. Maybe it was the welcoming smile and comforting assistance he provided me as I attempted to navigate my new place of work, or possibly the super smart question he asked me that gave it away.
In conversation with any of my coworkers when his name is brought up, the consensus always is what a fantastic nurse he is. As I got to know Travis, and see him in all his nursing glory, it was very clear why everyone had come to this conclusion. Watching him on the unit, you will always see him offering a helping hand to his coworkers and assist with patient needs or questions, even patients that are not a part of his assignment. Even on the day after running a marathon, he didn't think twice about running around the unit to assist a coworker and provide patient care. And you will never hear him complain, showcasing his physical endurance in a demanding setting and emotional stability.
Travis takes the time to explain medical procedures and takes pride in educating his patients. He is an excellent patient advocate, utilizes great judgment and is detail oriented. When he is in the charge role, you can feel a sense of security about the unit, knowing that a competent leader is at the helm. With his caring nature, he takes the time to listen to family and patient's concerns, soothing fears and worries, and finding ways to make difficult situations bearable.
Despite his busy nursing schedule, I see him at work on his days off attending committee meetings, showing his dedication to the nursing profession, involvement with evidence-based practice, and ongoing research.
Nursing as we know can be a demanding job with its long hours and stressful situations, making even the most dedicated nurse become jaded and succumb to burnout. Trust me, after working for over a decade in nursing, I see this a lot. But not Travis; he still exudes the same passion for bedside nursing, and truly cares about making a positive impact in all those he cares for. CVPH is lucky to have him.
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Patient care is full of challenging situations, and I found myself in one not too long ago. My saving grace went by the name of Travis. After receiving a medical diagnosis, there was a need for a patient I was caring for to be transferred to a different hospital for services not rendered at CVPH. Transportation was time sensitive, along with OR scheduling at the other facility, leaving a small window of time that needed to be met. Unfortunately, the social situation with the patient was quite challenging. After spending nearly an exhaustive amount of time explaining the situation and assisting with distraught family members, I was almost ready to raise the white flag. That's when Travis swooped in and assisted with the situation. He utilized his extraordinary communication skills and caring nature, allowing for the transfer to become possible. Did I mention that this was a patient that he wasn't assigned to? He took the time to assist, despite having a full patient load of his own. This is just one snippet of what a tremendous nurse he is, and I could not have been more thankful that he was there that day.