Debra arrived to work at 6 am to assist with making the assignment for day shift, because the night nurse was inexperienced in that area. While making the assignment, Debra realized staffing was short, and several nurses would be tripled, so she decided to stay and take a patient assignment.
Debra was assigned to a critically ill patient who had no family information in his medical record. She found his cell phone in his personal belongings, charged it, then began calling contacts to try and identify his legal next of kin. Debra learned the patient had been estranged from his two daughters and brother for over three years. She made it possible for them to reconnect despite the patient not being able to respond. She spent almost an hour working on locating his family, the daughter and brother were so grateful.