I would like to nominate Andrea Trepanier, RN, because -- not just on this day, but everyday -- she does what she can to help others. On this particular day, though, she went way above and beyond:
It was the end of a very long day. We had three rapid responses and a code. Two of the rapid responses and the code all occurred after 3 p.m. In fact, the second rapid response and the code were happening simultaneously. I happened to be in charge that day, so I was trying to assess both situations, but found it to be difficult to truly help. So I asked this nurse if she could please go be my eyes and ears in the rapid response and offer help any way she could. She smiled, said, “Of course” and off she went. At almost 8 p.m. this nurse was standing with Ansos in her hand getting ready to sign out when we found out that the patient was being rapid responded for the third time. At this time, I was giving floor report and settling a patient that had just returned from an arteriogram. My husband and two kids were here and waiting to pick me up. Again, I looked at this nurse and said can you please help with the rapid response. Even though she had already finished a very long, hectic day and was heading out the door herself, she just smiled and said, “Yes, of course.” She assisted in the rapid response and then stayed to medicate some of that nurse’s patients, because she was transferring her patient to the ICU.
It had been almost 20 minutes, and my family was still waiting so I then asked her if she could bring me home when we were done, so they wouldn't have to wait any longer. She said, “Of course.” She could have just headed home; but, instead, she stayed late to help out and then drove me home. To make matters worse, it was an awful snowy night! She could've just headed home, but instead she thought of the others she could help and chose to make that decision instead. This isn't the first time she's done something like this, and I'm sure it won't be the last!