Shanon Feltz
July 2019
Shanon
Feltz
,
RN
Float Pool
Aspirus Wausau Hospital
Wausau
,
WI
United States
A 21-year old cancer patient came into the Clinical Decision Unit for yet another day of blood and platelet transfusion. This patient was a patient at UW Madison, and this was convenient for him to come here as opposed to drive to Madison multiple times that week. This day was also this young man's 21st birthday.
When Shanon discovered that Saturday was his birthday she proceeded to go to the gift shop and buy him balloons and treats so he and his dad could celebrate the best they could while he was getting transfused. The infusion of the platelets went off without a problem. The blood was hung and began running and after about ¾ of the way through the transfusion, the patient began to spike a fever. Shanon followed protocol, contacted the MD and did everything she could to ensure that this patient did not have problems. There was a question if this was really a transfusion reaction due to the way the patient responded to the treatment.
His temperature and vitals were under control and the second unit of blood was transfused. The patient was ready to go home and start vomiting. He did not look well and Shanon again called the MD. She wasn't getting the response that she needed so she enlisted the help of the Hospital Supervisor who worked diligently with the ED MD's to engage them in accepting the patient from discharge in the CDU and transported to the ED. The patient was very sick, and his disease process was doing terrible things to his body. He quickly developed sepsis and was transferred to UW Madison where his providers are located.
On Monday or Tuesday after this situation, the father called me to tell me what a wonderful nurse Shanon is and he recognized that she was worried and concerned and he wanted to make sure that she knew she didn't have anything to worry about because she did everything right. He wanted to express his appreciation and acknowledge her for staying extra, for celebrating his birthday, for getting him to the ED, and coordinating his care for several hours on Saturday. He was tearful by this time and could not say enough positive comments about Shanon.
I thanked him for sharing and inquired about how his son was doing. With a shaky and tearful voice, he said: "He's home with us now, but won't be with us long." In his time of horrendous grief and facing the loss of his 21-year-old son, he wanted to make sure Shanon knew how much they appreciated her care and compassion.
When Shanon discovered that Saturday was his birthday she proceeded to go to the gift shop and buy him balloons and treats so he and his dad could celebrate the best they could while he was getting transfused. The infusion of the platelets went off without a problem. The blood was hung and began running and after about ¾ of the way through the transfusion, the patient began to spike a fever. Shanon followed protocol, contacted the MD and did everything she could to ensure that this patient did not have problems. There was a question if this was really a transfusion reaction due to the way the patient responded to the treatment.
His temperature and vitals were under control and the second unit of blood was transfused. The patient was ready to go home and start vomiting. He did not look well and Shanon again called the MD. She wasn't getting the response that she needed so she enlisted the help of the Hospital Supervisor who worked diligently with the ED MD's to engage them in accepting the patient from discharge in the CDU and transported to the ED. The patient was very sick, and his disease process was doing terrible things to his body. He quickly developed sepsis and was transferred to UW Madison where his providers are located.
On Monday or Tuesday after this situation, the father called me to tell me what a wonderful nurse Shanon is and he recognized that she was worried and concerned and he wanted to make sure that she knew she didn't have anything to worry about because she did everything right. He wanted to express his appreciation and acknowledge her for staying extra, for celebrating his birthday, for getting him to the ED, and coordinating his care for several hours on Saturday. He was tearful by this time and could not say enough positive comments about Shanon.
I thanked him for sharing and inquired about how his son was doing. With a shaky and tearful voice, he said: "He's home with us now, but won't be with us long." In his time of horrendous grief and facing the loss of his 21-year-old son, he wanted to make sure Shanon knew how much they appreciated her care and compassion.