Gisvel Pena
June 2020
Gisvel
Pena
,
BSN, RN
Thoracics Tower 11C
Brigham & Women's Hospital
Gisvel was able to not only meet the patient's complex medical needs as a person with severe COVID disease, but she was able to understand the unique needs of a pregnant woman who was also critically ill
I'm sure there will be many instances of exceptional Nursing care during these difficult times of the COVID-19 pandemic, but I wanted to highlight the efforts of Nurse Gisvel Pena. Gisvel started her Brigham career as a Surgical Technologist in Labor and Delivery, working her way through Nursing school on nights and weekends. After graduating with her RN, Gisvel continued her career as a new Nurse on L&D. Gisvel remained in Labor & Delivery for five years before deciding to follow her dream to the Thoracic ICU float pool. She had established herself as an excellent thoracic ICU Nurse when the COVID pandemic occurred and Gisvel was redeployed to the SPU in the Shapiro ICUs.
This wide variety of professional experience put Gisvel in a unique position to care for patient C when she presented to Brigham & Women's with COVID. C presented to the BWH emergency department, 31 weeks pregnant and in acute respiratory distress due to the coronavirus. She was quickly intubated and admitted to the SPU on Shapiro 9W.
Over ten days, Gisvel often cared for C on the overnight shift. Gisvel was able to not only meet the patient's complex medical needs as a person with severe COVID disease, but she was able to understand the unique needs of a pregnant woman who was also critically ill. Gisvel's expertise in obstetrics allowed her to monitor C's baby and observe her for signs that she may be experiencing preterm labor. Most importantly, Gisvel understands the concerns of pregnant women.
With the patient being heavily sedated with no family to comfort her, Gisvel was able to talk to C and reassure her as much as possible that her baby was safe and well and that they were both being cared for to the best of our abilities. Concern for this mother and baby weighed heavily upon us in the Center of Women and Newborns. The entire obstetric team was always greatly reassured when we knew that Gisvel was caring for this very complicated patient. Ultimately, C was successfully delivered via Cesarean section. Gisvel was again there to care for C as she came out of the operating room. Again, she was able to use her skill in both critical care and obstetrics to provide comprehensive care to this patient. Delivery helped C turn the corner. Both Mom and baby were able to be extubated and are both doing well.
This was a positive story during these unfortunate times and a great example of collaborative care across many departments and disciplines. I think Gisvel Pena is a marvelous example of the value of Nursing expertise at Brigham & Women's Hospital.
This wide variety of professional experience put Gisvel in a unique position to care for patient C when she presented to Brigham & Women's with COVID. C presented to the BWH emergency department, 31 weeks pregnant and in acute respiratory distress due to the coronavirus. She was quickly intubated and admitted to the SPU on Shapiro 9W.
Over ten days, Gisvel often cared for C on the overnight shift. Gisvel was able to not only meet the patient's complex medical needs as a person with severe COVID disease, but she was able to understand the unique needs of a pregnant woman who was also critically ill. Gisvel's expertise in obstetrics allowed her to monitor C's baby and observe her for signs that she may be experiencing preterm labor. Most importantly, Gisvel understands the concerns of pregnant women.
With the patient being heavily sedated with no family to comfort her, Gisvel was able to talk to C and reassure her as much as possible that her baby was safe and well and that they were both being cared for to the best of our abilities. Concern for this mother and baby weighed heavily upon us in the Center of Women and Newborns. The entire obstetric team was always greatly reassured when we knew that Gisvel was caring for this very complicated patient. Ultimately, C was successfully delivered via Cesarean section. Gisvel was again there to care for C as she came out of the operating room. Again, she was able to use her skill in both critical care and obstetrics to provide comprehensive care to this patient. Delivery helped C turn the corner. Both Mom and baby were able to be extubated and are both doing well.
This was a positive story during these unfortunate times and a great example of collaborative care across many departments and disciplines. I think Gisvel Pena is a marvelous example of the value of Nursing expertise at Brigham & Women's Hospital.