Jolene consistently provides outstanding care for her patients here on 12K, but I recently came across a story that I feel really exemplifies the exceptional level of dedication and caring she shows for her patients. I am the staff educator, and I was following up on a PSI filed for a patient fall. The PSI was thorough and demonstrated that no harm had come to the patient and that appropriate care was provided after the patient fell. What I learned when I spoke directly to Jolene was that she had provided care in the most compassionate way.
This patient had struggled with being in the ICU, with being sick, and psychosocial issues had contributed to her anxiety and difficulty with coping in her situation. Social Work had been involved due to complicated family dynamics and their notes mention poor compliance as a contributing factor to her hospitalization. She had refused several aspects of care and many nursing notes identified her lack of involvement and cooperation in care as a barrier for recovery. The patient had been recovering in the ICU and had been quite mobile and ambulatory leading up to the event.
On the day of the fall, she had requested to sit at the side of the bed and be provided with a tub of warm water and cloths so that she could bathe herself. When the patient requested that the water be warmer, Jolene left the room to get some hot water from the nutrition room. When she returned, she found her patient sitting on the floor and noted that the tub of water had spilled. Appropriately, Jolene assessed the patient for signs of injury and called the ICU Provider caring for the patient to the bedside. It was quickly determined that the patient was not injured. It is what Jolene did after this event, I believe, that makes her deserving of this DAISY award.
After the fall to the floor, the patient refused to get up. She was insistent that she be allowed to sit on the floor and complete her bath, wash her hair, and shave her legs. Jolene spent over 45 minutes with her patient on the floor, helping her patient with these personal cares. Jolene recognized that her patient needed a level of control and autonomy in these activities, but that she was unsafe to be left alone on the floor. Instead of insisting that the patient get up, Jolene joined her where she was and helped her complete her tasks. Once she was washed and shaved, the patient was assisted back to bed where she rested comfortably for the rest of the day.
Jolene's compassionate care and her understanding of her patient's needs make her a great candidate for our DAISY Award.