A patient in our care began to develop shortness of breath and was very agitated. Initially, it was believed that, since the patient had struggled with anxiety in the past, he was having a panic attack, and the decision was made to give a sedative to relieve his symptoms. Genave, who was working as the charge nurse, took the time to assess the patient herself. She considered the patient's symptoms and, based on the clinical picture, suspected that he may have developed blood clots in his lungs, a potentially life-threatening condition.
Despite an unsuccessful attempt to reach a first-line provider, Genave nevertheless persisted, and eventually reached the surgeon. Tests were ordered, and it was discovered that the patient indeed had developed clots in his lungs, and the appropriate medical therapy was initiated.
It would have been easy simply to chalk the patient's symptoms up to anxiety and give medication for it. It is thanks to Genave's critical thinking and persistent action, her concern for the well-being and safety of her patients, that a potentially catastrophic situation was avoided.
Genave's thought process and actions are quintessential characteristics of top-tier nursing, and it is our hope that our patients, our loved ones, and eventually ourselves, have nurses like her: nurses who assess, think critically and act without being deterred because they are unwavering in their commitment to the care and improvement of human life.