Melissa Sedillo
November 2013
Melissa
Sedillo
,
BSN, RN
Trauma-Surgical ICU
University of New Mexico Hospitals
Albuquerque
,
NM
United States
As a Trauma Surgical Intensive Care Unit we are filled with knowledgeable caring staff. However the compassionate care and dedication to patient safety that Melissa Sedillo displayed was far above our typical exceptional care.
This particular shift Melissa was caring for a patient recovering from open heart surgery. He was doing well and was ready to progress to our step down unit. I had been in his room helping to establish some new IV's to prepare him for this transition. Melissa and the doctors had both discussed the plan of care with the patient and his wife, however with no available beds in the step-down the patient remained on our unit.
Later in the afternoon I (the charge nurse) was approached by this particular patient's surgeon who wanted to discuss a complaint. The patient was upset claiming the staff from last night changed the time on the clocks to confuse him and to withhold his medications. The patient was adamant he be allowed to speak with the hospital CEO regarding his concerns. The surgeon informed me that the patient did have a known psychiatric history and during a previous admission left the hospital AMA.
The situation seemed to quickly deteriorate. Each person who attempted to defuse the situation caused the patient and his wife to become more upset and agitated. The patient had become so upset that he refused to speak with the attending doctor, stating that he would once again be leaving the hospital regardless of any complication. The threat of this patient leaving the hospital was very concerning as he was only 2 days out from open heart surgery and still needing nursing care. I wish I could have heard what Melissa said to this patient, because after she went in to speak with him he told us that he would remain in the hospital. Melissa's calm and compassionate demeanor helped her earn the trust of the patient throughout the shift. This trust ultimately allowed her to care for the patient in the best possible way. Melissa's dedication to this patient did not stop there. By this time the patient had become fixated on moving to the step down unit, stating Melissa was the only person he would let care for him until that happened. Melissa assured the patient he would receive the best possible care from her.
While administration worked to create a bed in the step down unit, Melissa worked quietly to find a ride home as she had carpooled with a fellow employee. Melissa remained with the patient well past the end of her scheduled shift. She personally transported him to the step down unit and was able to seamlessly transfer care. The rapport Melissa was able to establish with the patient allowed her to provide exceptional medical care with compassion and dignity. Melissa's dedication to her patient was overwhelmingly evident as she made personal sacrifices to ensure her patient felt safe and well cared for.
This particular shift Melissa was caring for a patient recovering from open heart surgery. He was doing well and was ready to progress to our step down unit. I had been in his room helping to establish some new IV's to prepare him for this transition. Melissa and the doctors had both discussed the plan of care with the patient and his wife, however with no available beds in the step-down the patient remained on our unit.
Later in the afternoon I (the charge nurse) was approached by this particular patient's surgeon who wanted to discuss a complaint. The patient was upset claiming the staff from last night changed the time on the clocks to confuse him and to withhold his medications. The patient was adamant he be allowed to speak with the hospital CEO regarding his concerns. The surgeon informed me that the patient did have a known psychiatric history and during a previous admission left the hospital AMA.
The situation seemed to quickly deteriorate. Each person who attempted to defuse the situation caused the patient and his wife to become more upset and agitated. The patient had become so upset that he refused to speak with the attending doctor, stating that he would once again be leaving the hospital regardless of any complication. The threat of this patient leaving the hospital was very concerning as he was only 2 days out from open heart surgery and still needing nursing care. I wish I could have heard what Melissa said to this patient, because after she went in to speak with him he told us that he would remain in the hospital. Melissa's calm and compassionate demeanor helped her earn the trust of the patient throughout the shift. This trust ultimately allowed her to care for the patient in the best possible way. Melissa's dedication to this patient did not stop there. By this time the patient had become fixated on moving to the step down unit, stating Melissa was the only person he would let care for him until that happened. Melissa assured the patient he would receive the best possible care from her.
While administration worked to create a bed in the step down unit, Melissa worked quietly to find a ride home as she had carpooled with a fellow employee. Melissa remained with the patient well past the end of her scheduled shift. She personally transported him to the step down unit and was able to seamlessly transfer care. The rapport Melissa was able to establish with the patient allowed her to provide exceptional medical care with compassion and dignity. Melissa's dedication to her patient was overwhelmingly evident as she made personal sacrifices to ensure her patient felt safe and well cared for.