Cindy was nominated by her assistant nurse manager who spoke so highly of her compassion, empathy, selflessness in her care for her patients.
This particular nomination highlights an experience with a patient who had come to Cindy after an outpatient procedure. She knew that the patient's spouse had taken the pain medication from a previous admission. Cindy partnered with the patient, provider, and pharmacy to put the medication in a discreet location and provide education for access. She then arranged for the patient to return the next day for a nerve block to help with pain relief. Upon arrival the next day, the patient asked to speak to Cindy privately. It was then that the patient divulged that there was an abusive situation at home.
While the spouse was in the waiting room holding the wife's phone and keys, Cindy was busy partnering with the patient, her mother, the patient's local law enforcement, our city law enforcement, hospital security, social services, and team members to arrange for the patient to be escorted to the hospital for further evaluation and to fill out a restraining order. The patient's mother arrived to provide transportation. She thanked Cindy for helping and said she did not know this was happening.
Cindy then remembered the patient had a school-age child and assisted the patient to notify the school that the child was not to be released to the spouse. The patient kept apologizing for being so much trouble but Cindy assured her that it was not an imposition and in fact an honor to help her.
The police department followed up with Cindy a couple of weeks later to inform her that a restraining order had indeed been filed by the patient.