October 2020
Tracy
Hobbs
,
BSN, RN
3 East
Vidant Medical Center
Greenville
,
NC
United States
Tracy recently received a transfer patient, who had spent a lengthy amount of time in the hospital. The patient arrived to 3East with a wound vac and a colostomy bag. This patient constantly pulled one or both off. This was requiring the patient to have a sitter and/or restraints at most times. The patient needed long term placement at an outside facility. One barrier to discharge to a long term facility is restraints or sitter. A patient must be free from both for 24-48 hours before a facility will take the patient. The patient's wound vac was able to be discontinued after a while, but she still had the colostomy. She continued to constantly remove her colostomy bag. After discussing and thinking through different solutions, Tracy was able to make this patient a bodysuit out of flexinet. This bodysuit made it difficult for the patient to remove her colostomy bag. This bodysuit was placed on the patient and she loved her new "fishnet" attire. The unit was able to discontinue the sitter and restraints almost immediately. The patient was much happier. She was able to move around more freely and no longer required a sitter or restraints. The patient was accepted and discharged to a long-term care facility with her new outfit after months spent in the hospital. Tracy is a great patient advocate. She is able to think outside the box and make things happen to improve patient outcomes. She is an awesome asset to the 3 East team.