A patient in CCU recognized Tammy Poarch. He was in tears talking about her. Tammy was his nurse Saturday night. This was a particularly hard night for him both medically and mentally. He was struggling with abdominal pain and difficulty breathing. He said it was one of the toughest nights in his memory. Not only was Tammy a fantastic RN and there for him for his medical needs, but she was also his "coach." He said, "She helped me mentally, giving me encouragement and giving me strength and she was extremely sincere in her care." That meant the world to him and he was forever grateful.
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I cannot do leader rounding without hearing Tammy's name in a recognition. She is not just a nurse; she is a coach, a shoulder to cry on, an ear to listen, a teacher, a mother, a sister, a jokester, a smile, or whatever that patient needs at that moment. She is an advocate for her patients and will do everything in her power to make sure her patients are well taken care of. She may feel that she can't take another step at the end of her shift, but her patients have been changed because she has been their nurse for the past 12 hours throughout the night.