Jessica was caring for a patient who appeared very distraught. When pressed, the patient confided that she was worried about her husband. He came to see her every morning at 7:30 and stayed until 7:30 pm every night. She made attempts to reach him and no one picked up. She had no family nearby and the neighbors were at work. Jessica tried to console the patient and suggested he may have been running errands or getting breakfast. The patient did not agree and was overcome with worry. Jessica tried to call the home herself numerous times to no avail. Jessica then called the Police Department and requested a wellness check on the patient's husband. She provided the address. A half-hour later Jessica received a call that the police had to break into the home where the husband was found lying on the ground and speaking incoherently. The police felt he possibly had a stroke. He arrived at Regional Hospital via ambulance as a stroke alert. Jessica informed the patient that her husband was alive but had to come to the hospital to be checked out. ER staff stated he was a stroke with LVO and would be taken to the nearest facility to have clot retrieval. Coordinating with several people, Jessica received permission to take her patient down to the ER with a monitor and nurse escort to see her husband. During this time Jessica also reached out to the patient's niece and sister in law to inform them of the situation. Jessica took her patient down and brought her bedside to her husband. There they held hands, told each other they loved each other, and both told each other to get better. Jessica took the patient back to her room after that, the husband was transported out. Jessica stayed with her patient until she calmed down and her sister in law arrived. Jessica then called the other hospital and gave them contact information for the patient, the sister in law, and the niece.
The patient was discharged to the same place as her husband, for them to get rehab together.
Jessica went above and beyond her call of duty for this patient and her family. I feel she saved his life that day. Not only did she save a life, but she also comforted and cared for her patient in a time of acute stress and sadness. Jessica took the time to do more than is required.