Sarah Tuttle
May 2018
Sarah
Tuttle
,
RN
Inpatient Oncology
ThedaCare Regional Medical Center Appleton
Appleton
,
WI
United States
Sarah has a distinct ability to connect with our patients no matter who they are or what their background is. She connects with patients in a way that helps them open up to her which allows her to advocate for the most appropriate care the patient needs. Inpatient Oncology patients have many facets to their care and this natural ability of Sarah's is invaluable with our patients. I can share two specific scenarios that recently occurred where Sarah showed this talent wonderfully.
Scenario #1: Oncology patient admitted to our floor for approximately one month. His clinical prognosis was worsening with every day and depression was increasing. Many attempts to discuss goals/palliative care/hospice had been attempted with resistance. A patient was frustrated with many staff members and was shutting down to the point that he was requesting minimal care and refusing interventions yet was not interested in comfort care. Sarah was able to get to know the patient in a way that allowed him to open up to her. She was able to truly understand and overcome his barrier to switching to a goal of comfort care. This included but wasn't limited to discussion with palliative care and the patient's children. After all of these conversations, the patient peacefully signed on to hospice and was transitioned out of the hospital.
Scenario #2: A patient was detoxing on the 7th floor and had been readmitted several times for the same reason. Patient originally had agreed to transfer to our behavioral health unit for help. On the day of transfer, the patient became very anxious and decided he wanted to leave against medical advice. Sarah knew this gentleman needed help. She was able to calmly work with the patient to help him agree (once again) to transfer to the behavioral health unit. She worked with care management to escalate the need to set up transfer ASAP so we didn't lose the opportunity again. She created an escalation plan to make sure that this patient would get in the transfer vehicle and transfer without changing his mind. Had Sarah not been this patient's nurse that day, I don't know that he would have received the help he needed to hopefully begin his journey towards recovery.
Scenario #1: Oncology patient admitted to our floor for approximately one month. His clinical prognosis was worsening with every day and depression was increasing. Many attempts to discuss goals/palliative care/hospice had been attempted with resistance. A patient was frustrated with many staff members and was shutting down to the point that he was requesting minimal care and refusing interventions yet was not interested in comfort care. Sarah was able to get to know the patient in a way that allowed him to open up to her. She was able to truly understand and overcome his barrier to switching to a goal of comfort care. This included but wasn't limited to discussion with palliative care and the patient's children. After all of these conversations, the patient peacefully signed on to hospice and was transitioned out of the hospital.
Scenario #2: A patient was detoxing on the 7th floor and had been readmitted several times for the same reason. Patient originally had agreed to transfer to our behavioral health unit for help. On the day of transfer, the patient became very anxious and decided he wanted to leave against medical advice. Sarah knew this gentleman needed help. She was able to calmly work with the patient to help him agree (once again) to transfer to the behavioral health unit. She worked with care management to escalate the need to set up transfer ASAP so we didn't lose the opportunity again. She created an escalation plan to make sure that this patient would get in the transfer vehicle and transfer without changing his mind. Had Sarah not been this patient's nurse that day, I don't know that he would have received the help he needed to hopefully begin his journey towards recovery.