I have the pleasure of working with Alle Vitrano on a regular basis. I have been able to observe her nursing in action on many occasions but this one stands out; not because it is rare but because it was a witness to me that this is truly a calling for Alle.
On this day, Alle was the primary nurse for a patient (she is normally a charge nurse without patients). The patient was in his 90s and here because he had failed outpatient therapy and needed to be admitted. The assessment that she received and her recollection of the patient from the day before (in the charge nurse role) did not match. The patient's condition had declined, and the outlook was poor.
He was no longer alert and talkative. Breathing was difficult and due to his age, he was beginning to fatigue quickly. His vital signs reflected the situation that he was in. Alle knew that this was something that needed immediate attention. She took action and involved the physicians and respiratory techs. New orders and protocols were implemented. She struggled with supportive departments to get them on the same page as herself and her assessment of the situation. She worked diligently through her shift to ensure orders were carried out in a timely manner.
Alle struggled with this patient over and over throughout the day. She had to continually reinforce the need for intervention with those who were caring for him. I rounded on the patient at the beginning of the day and I was unsure if he would make it through the shift. I spoke with Alle several times through the shift and assessed the patient as well. At the end of the day, he was awake. He was smiling. He was talking and breathing without laboring. We spoke about how he had no recollection of the day. He spoke about how he had heard from his family about the progress he had made that day and about how thankful he was that his "nurse cared so much for him and worked so hard to help".
I am always impressed with nurses and their strength. Nursing is not for the weak. It takes physical strength, mental strength, and emotional strength just to do this work day-to-day. I am blessed when I can observe a nurse living out God's mission. It is not something that you forget. This is one of those situations. I will not forget what Alle did for her patient. Her diligence alone brought a patient back from imminent death.
This is not an uncommon situation to observe with Alle. She often goes above and beyond for her patients. The effort she puts forth to ensure that her patients receive the best care possible does not waver. Her effort does not fatigue. The way that she works sets that standard for what I would want for my family, community, and profession. If anyone deserves the DAISY Award, it's Alle.