Hope Snazelle performed in a manner that saved my father's life. Her knowledge, assessment skills, and action spearheaded the immediate care needed right away. My dad had been admitted after experiencing chest pain and increasing shortness of breath. On the second day of admission he had a cardiac cath to diagnose his problem. That was the fateful day that I am thankful for Hope being at his bedside. He had returned from the procedure and had just ordered his lunch. Hope was stationed in his room, with the WOW, monitoring his vital signs and his compression device on his wrist. He was somewhat quiet but this was thought to be due to the sedation medication. Hope asked him directly about his status because she, too, noticed that this was a change. My dad responded that he was just tired. Just 25 minutes after returning from the cath lab, he tried to sit up and say something. His speech was extremely garbled and no one could understand him. She became very concerned and did a full neuro assessment on him and called other RNs on the floor to see him. She clearly stated "This is not him." I could clearly see that she had known and cared for my dad over the past two days.
Although elderly he had always been lucid and totally intact. Hope then knew that she had to call a Code (brain attack), which she did, and that brought the resources that he needed right then and there. Never was there the slightest hesitation about doing the right thing. Hope stayed with my dad and orchestrated his care advocating his treatment options in light of the recent cath. My dad's CT scan was negative and Hope stayed with him all the time. His MRI did show a small area of damage, but he has since recovered 85% of his speech.
Hope was the consummate professional and the greatest advocate for my dad.