Melissa Gerst
March 2013
Melissa
Gerst
,
BSN
High Risk Cardiology
Barnes-Jewish Hospital
St. Louis
,
MO
United States
I received a call from my great aunt while I was on vacation telling me that her husband was sick and brought to BJH the night before. They live in a very rural community about 150 miles southeast of St. Louis. None of her adult children were able to come to St. Louis to stay. My great aunt is 79 and her husband will turn 90 next month. Typically when he is hospitalized he is in a private room and she stays with him or I take her home with me and bring her back to the hospital each day. This began several years ago when I received a call that she had inadvertently ended up in a rough part of town at a gas station asking directions at midnight one evening when she left him searching for a local hotel. Needless to say, she simply cannot navigate her way around St. Louis nor can she navigate BJH very well.
My aunt slept in a chair outside of her husband's room on Saturday night. I spoke to Melissa about the possibility of obtaining a private room for him as she is not able to stay off campus alone and that if not, I would have come to and fro each day. Melissa explained that the beds were tight and while she would do everything she could to obtain a private room, they did not have any scheduled discharges and at that time she did not see any potential for one on 2100. She did contact the patient placement center regarding relocating him to a private room but my aunt preferred to stay on 2100 (that is her favorite patient care unit at BJH).
Melissa called me back a few hours later asking if it would be okay if they relocated their equipment out of their exam room and placed a bed in there for my aunt (it was located directly across from the nurses station). Needless to say, both my aunt and I were thrilled. She stayed there for 2 nights until a private room became available.
While I was able to help her on Monday and Tuesday until her daughter was able to come on Wednesday, the staff went out of their way to help her and make sure she had food and that her accommodations were good. Melissa also rounded on them daily. The nursing staff took significant precautions ensuring my uncle remained safe (he was a high fall risk and would not call out for help) by obtaining a portable bed alarm,then a low bed..and when he still attempted to get out of bed, he spent the night in a recliner at the nurses station so that my aunt could sleep.
Her daughter, who is a nurse, was extremely complementary of his nursing care. She specifically stated "his nursing care was excellent" without being prompted. I know first-hand that BJH nurses provide extraordinary nursing care and was very proud to hear that she recognized it.
My aunt slept in a chair outside of her husband's room on Saturday night. I spoke to Melissa about the possibility of obtaining a private room for him as she is not able to stay off campus alone and that if not, I would have come to and fro each day. Melissa explained that the beds were tight and while she would do everything she could to obtain a private room, they did not have any scheduled discharges and at that time she did not see any potential for one on 2100. She did contact the patient placement center regarding relocating him to a private room but my aunt preferred to stay on 2100 (that is her favorite patient care unit at BJH).
Melissa called me back a few hours later asking if it would be okay if they relocated their equipment out of their exam room and placed a bed in there for my aunt (it was located directly across from the nurses station). Needless to say, both my aunt and I were thrilled. She stayed there for 2 nights until a private room became available.
While I was able to help her on Monday and Tuesday until her daughter was able to come on Wednesday, the staff went out of their way to help her and make sure she had food and that her accommodations were good. Melissa also rounded on them daily. The nursing staff took significant precautions ensuring my uncle remained safe (he was a high fall risk and would not call out for help) by obtaining a portable bed alarm,then a low bed..and when he still attempted to get out of bed, he spent the night in a recliner at the nurses station so that my aunt could sleep.
Her daughter, who is a nurse, was extremely complementary of his nursing care. She specifically stated "his nursing care was excellent" without being prompted. I know first-hand that BJH nurses provide extraordinary nursing care and was very proud to hear that she recognized it.