My mother-in-law had a serious heart attack and spent almost two weeks in the Cardiac Unit. Like many of the other nurses, Scarlet is exceptional. In one instance though, I feel like she was our "lifeline." My mother-in-law had a turn for the worse and we both knew that something was wrong. My mother-in-law is not a complainer, so I was certain that something had changed. Since her vitals were normal, the staff didn't listen or address our concerns. Since it was a holiday, I couldn't even get someone to contact a doctor without pushing very hard and continuously. We did finally see a doctor at around 10:00 pm. At shift change (7:30 pm), Scarlet came on duty. She truly listened and believed us enough to get to the bottom of the problem. She noticed that a medication had been doubled on the day shift. The prior night, the previous dose had been beneficial. She discussed the change with the doctor who agreed it could be the source of the problem and the dosage was reduced. This solved the issue and my mother-in-law was released shortly thereafter.
What I wanted to highlight in the letter is Scarlet's compassion, empathy, and knowledge. I am certain that my mother-in-law was released quicker, once we got a handle on the medications. Not only was the situation improved by Scarlet's handling, but also the patient and her family felt comfortable in her hands. That is the ultimate compliment for a medical professional.
You are to be commended on the nursing staff you have in place in the cardiac unit of Salem Hospital.