February 2009
Zenia
Hulbert
,
RN
6E (Behavioral Medicine)
St. Joseph Mercy Oakland (MI)
Pontiac
,
MI
United States

 

 

 

I nominate Zenia Hulbert for the Daisy Award without reservation because she saved a patient's life. The patient was admitted to 6 East with psychosis and panic attacks lasting throughout the day and night. Staff continued to report that she was hyperventilating. Zenia took report in the morning and went to assess the pt and immediately recognized the patient's symptoms were that of respiratory distress. She alerted me and we were able to get the patient transferred to AICU immediately. Nomination by: Dr. Jayakar Reddy MD

I would like to nominate Zenia because patients who are admitted on 6 East are usually acutely mentally ill and psychotic. We do not have the GWN available for our patients and therefore these patients due to their disease process are unable to speak for themselves. On 9/11/2008 a patient was admitted to 6 East after being removed from his apartment due to his extreme psychosis and the fact that he was unable to care for himself. He had not combed or cut his hair, shaved, or cut his fingernails for months. His apartment and clothing was riddled with feces and urine. He was not taking his medications and was extremely paranoid. Staff had been attempting to stabilize the patient with medications. Patient continued to be encopretic and enuretic. Zenia's first encounter with this patient as his primary nurse was on 10/11/2008. Zenia talked with the patient one on one and discussed the importance of hygiene, that he was an adult, that there was still odor emitted from him, it was imperative that he needed to shower, shave, and clean himself up. Zenia persuaded to sign a consent to cut his beard and hair off because it was impacted with feces that could not come out with previous staff's attempts at showering. Zenia and a MHT, Derrick Logan, took the time to assist him in the shower, shave, and obtained his consent to clean his hair which contained feces. His fingernails were cut which also contained feces. When the patient was clean, his own clothing was retrieved and he got dressed. He then walked around the unit and the other patients introduced themselves because they did not recognize him. The patient began smiling and laughing and thanked Zenia and Derrick because nobody had been social with him since he arrived. He had been ostracized from the patient community. He now became more lucid; there were no more encopretic and enuretic episodes. Immediately we saw acceptance from his peers, and participation with socialization and therapy groups, the patient was discharged on 10/14/2008. Zenia gave this man back his dignity and gave him a reason to care about himself again. This is just one of many examples of Zenia's "beyond the call of duty" outstanding nursing care that she extends to all her patients every day that she walks through the doors at SJMO. 6 East is very lucky to have such a great patient advocate. Nominated by Mary Aldrich, 6 East Nurse Educator.

Zenia is a new nurse grad who has brought fresh enthusiasm and spirit to our unit. I would like to cite a recent example of her "Going the extra mile". Over a patient's LOS she took it upon herself to look for a suitable place for her special needs patient to go after discharge. She contacted several area nursing homes coordinating with the patient's family at all times. She is a great advocate for our Psychiatric Patients going beyond standard nursing care. Nominated by Mary Aldrich, 6E RN.