Tori, was taking care of a patient in preterm labor. In doing her normal assessment and listening to the lungs, she thought she heard crackles in the lower lobes. She notified the physician of her abnormal finding because she happened to be on the unit doing a C-section. The MD did not have time to evaluate the patient before going back to her office so Tori got a second opinion from another nurse working. That nurse also listened to the lungs and did not hear anything. The MD called back to follow up and requested a respiratory consult. The respiratory therapist assessed the patient and did not feel there were any abnormal findings.
Tori, still convinced that something was indeed wrong with this patient as her heart rate began to change and she began to complain of shortness of breath. Tori called the physician again and ask for further testing and evaluation for this patient because she felt something was wrong. The MD ordered a chest x-ray and low and behold the x-ray showed infiltrates in the lower left lobes. This patient was actually septic and was transferred immediately to the ICU.
Tori's persistence and excellent nursing care saved the life of not only her patient but her unborn baby as well. This patient was not admitted for anything related to sepsis, which highlights the keen eye and excellent and thorough nursing care that Tori always provides her patients. She is an excellent example of a great nurse and amazing patient advocate.