My brother is mentally handicapped (5 yr old) but physically he is normal. His behavior had become out of control and he was brought to the ED on two separate occasions. Romy was not his nurse either time, however, she went above and beyond both times that he came to the ED.
He was there for several hours due to finding placement for him to be admitted. Romy would come to check on him. He became upset several different times while waiting. He was very unhappy and didn't want to go anywhere but home. Romy sat down with him and just listened to him talk. She brought him food from the cafeteria and intermittently brought him snacks. This was a big deal to him as a (mentally) five-year-old he felt special. He would say "She's nice, I like her, look what she brought me." She became his friend. I know she was juggling her patients, but she made time for him.
When it became time for him to be transferred to a facility, he was refusing. My mother who is 88 years old is his guardian. Romy assisted my mom in a private area for her to speak with someone from the facility. She was able to hear because the conversation was on speaker phone. My mother was able to give consent for him to be transferred. Romy made sure she was in a room with complete privacy and when she began to cry Romy comforted her and also was there for her. My brother was able to be transferred via ambulance and no handcuffs because of Romy. My mother would have been devastated if she would have had to see him transferred in handcuffs. If she had not gone out of her way and been there as a friend to him, this would have transpired in a different way. Reminder, he is like a 5-year-old and it can be challenging. She accepted that challenge and was exceptional.
The second occasion he was brought into the ED. Romy was working again and immediately came to see him. His aggression was more escalated, and I was unable to calm him down. He remembered Romy and she was able to calm him down. He was refusing the medications that were ordered for him. Again, Romy went out of her way and took the time to sit with him. He took his medications and calmed down. She made sure he had food again from the cafeteria, snacks, and drinks. I know that on both occasions she had used her badge to pay for his meals.
I am his sister and also a nurse at Schneck. I was scheduled for mandatory nursing skills fair and was in the ED with him. I didn't know what I was going to do since I was the only one with him. Romy came to me and said she would sit with him and for me to go. This was such a blessing since it was the last scheduled night for the mandatory event. When it became time for my brother to be transferred this time, he refused the ambulance. This meant he would have to be transferred via the police which also meant handcuffs. When they arrived, I was emotionally drained. Romy stepped right in and spoke with my brother. She was able again to calm him down. He did agree to allow them to place the handcuffs without having to be forced. Romy was then there for me. At that point, I cried. She hugged me and had tears in her eyes. I know he is not her family but he was treated as if he was.
I know she has the compassion and love that we as nurses should demonstrate. There are so many times that she went well beyond what was expected of her as a nurse. I honestly don't know what we would have done without her.