Jessica Gonzalez
December 2019
Jessica
Gonzalez
,
RN
Adult ICU
Loma Linda University Medical Center
Loma Linda
,
CA
United States
Jessica started her Journey here in Loma Linda in 2014. While in nursing school, she worked as a PCA and transition effortlessly to an RN role upon graduation. I have had the privilege of seeing her grow and surpassed expectations. She takes any challenge given to her with open arms and a great attitude. From starting out as a PCA in 1500 to transitioning to 1300 as a new grad and now being part of the ECICU code/rapid team, Jessica's journey is one that is inspiring. There have been many instances where she exemplifies hard work and compassion, but one particular episode has stuck with me.
On a very hectic and short-staffed night, Jessica was assigned a 1:1 patient. This particular patient frequently comes in for an acute exacerbation of his medical condition and is normally admitted to the acute floor. This time he required a higher level of care, so he was transferred to our unit. A couple of weeks earlier, another patient with the same medical condition passed away from complications and he happened to be close friends with that person. Understandably he was afraid that the same will happen to him. That night, Jessica was really busy caring for this patient's medical needs, not missing a beat. In the midst of all the chaos, there was a moment where she paused, looked at her patient straight in the eye and saw the look of anguish and uncertainty. She realized that he was genuinely afraid. She immediately stopped, crouched down to eye level and ask him one simple question... "How are you feeling?" That one question prompted an hour of a much-needed conversation. She held his hand. She gave him some words of encouragement. But most of all, she just listened. This really helped put his mind at ease. Later that night the patient called me into the room, I happen to be team leading, and expressed how grateful he was that Jessica was his nurse. Sometimes we are caught up in the everyday busyness that is nursing and we forget to address our patient's psychological needs. Jessica understood that in order to make man whole we must address the mind, body, and spirit and that she did.
On a very hectic and short-staffed night, Jessica was assigned a 1:1 patient. This particular patient frequently comes in for an acute exacerbation of his medical condition and is normally admitted to the acute floor. This time he required a higher level of care, so he was transferred to our unit. A couple of weeks earlier, another patient with the same medical condition passed away from complications and he happened to be close friends with that person. Understandably he was afraid that the same will happen to him. That night, Jessica was really busy caring for this patient's medical needs, not missing a beat. In the midst of all the chaos, there was a moment where she paused, looked at her patient straight in the eye and saw the look of anguish and uncertainty. She realized that he was genuinely afraid. She immediately stopped, crouched down to eye level and ask him one simple question... "How are you feeling?" That one question prompted an hour of a much-needed conversation. She held his hand. She gave him some words of encouragement. But most of all, she just listened. This really helped put his mind at ease. Later that night the patient called me into the room, I happen to be team leading, and expressed how grateful he was that Jessica was his nurse. Sometimes we are caught up in the everyday busyness that is nursing and we forget to address our patient's psychological needs. Jessica understood that in order to make man whole we must address the mind, body, and spirit and that she did.