Yolanda Parmelee
May 2015
Yolanda
Parmelee
,
RN
ED
Los Robles Hospital
Thousand Oaks
,
CA
United States
Yolanda was working as the nurse in our PTSA/"Fast Track" area on the day a very ill boy and his mother came in to be seen. Although triage was not her "assignment" for the day, in typical Yolanda fashion, she had her current patients taken care of so she came out to triage to assist the RN in this area. Upon entering the lobby she noted the young boy and his mom enter and she immediately noted that he did not look well. It was a very busy day in the ED, so she whisked him into her area and began assessing and triaging him. He had abdominal pain, but she immediately noted he looked very ill and required emergent interventions. She started his IV, drew blood, provided pain medication and helped the doctor expedite his care. She ensured all his care was rapid and made sure the ERMD and Charge Nurse knew he was a priority for placement.
As the expert clinician she is, she recognized how critically ill this young man was, and advocated for what he needed. More than this, Yolanda comforted mom who came in alone, leaving dad at home to care for her other children. She was very concerned about her son and Yolanda knew she needed support, so despite all she had going on, she made sure to provide mom with comfort and a shoulder. Yolanda provided exceptional physical and emotional care to this young boy and his mother all the way through to emergency surgery. Sadly, this young man died the next day from his illness.
A few days later this young boy's mother came to the ED to find the staff and tell them how much she and her family were impacted by this great care. She verbally expressed gratitute that her son's last hours were filled with compassionate care and left a note to be given to Yolanda and the other staff and physicians who cared for her son. Yolanda came to me many times in those initial days, very upset over this loss. I was blessed to know that our staff care and that our patients and family feel this, too.
I believe she exemplifies what a nurse represents - compassionate care married with exceptional clinical skill.
As the expert clinician she is, she recognized how critically ill this young man was, and advocated for what he needed. More than this, Yolanda comforted mom who came in alone, leaving dad at home to care for her other children. She was very concerned about her son and Yolanda knew she needed support, so despite all she had going on, she made sure to provide mom with comfort and a shoulder. Yolanda provided exceptional physical and emotional care to this young boy and his mother all the way through to emergency surgery. Sadly, this young man died the next day from his illness.
A few days later this young boy's mother came to the ED to find the staff and tell them how much she and her family were impacted by this great care. She verbally expressed gratitute that her son's last hours were filled with compassionate care and left a note to be given to Yolanda and the other staff and physicians who cared for her son. Yolanda came to me many times in those initial days, very upset over this loss. I was blessed to know that our staff care and that our patients and family feel this, too.
I believe she exemplifies what a nurse represents - compassionate care married with exceptional clinical skill.