Patient care comes naturally to many people while going above and beyond is just embedded in one's DNA. Consistently I have seen an individual rise to the occasion and amaze myself and her coworkers. Cari Shoemaker is rarely asked but is always seen helping her co-workers, is always first in a room to grab a bed alarm and is always willing to stay over or work an off shift to support her team and mentor and grow new nurses.
On a specific shift, everything was going wrong for a patient. Having a liquid diet is miserable and when it is time to eat, we ALL want our food. Breakfast never came and the patient was waiting patiently. When the nurse finally figured out and called down to see what the delay was, the answer was not what Cari being the charge nurse, wanted to hear for the patient and her team. Cari stepped up to the plate full throttle and started to resolve issues. She called that manager and had food to the patient within a few minutes.
Later on in the shift, the exact same thing transpired with the patient's dinner. The patient was brought the wrong food and the replacement meal never showed up. After working 13 hours, Cari went to Meijer's to pick up Tomato soup and pudding. That is all the patient wanted. Cari could have gone home and said, "Not my problem," but she stepped up and made a difference in that patient's day. Cari helped to ensure that patient's needs were met, and we are honored to have her caring for our patients at Fairfield Hospital.