Holly Jelm
November 2020
Holly
Jelm
,
BSN
AMITA Health Saint Joseph Medical Center
Holly's voice and touch seemed to calm the patient more than any medication could.
Holly Jelm went above and beyond while caring for her patient. The patient was a very sick gentleman with aphasia and difficulty breathing which led to extreme anxiety because he was unable to express his needs. Holly spent the entire weekend making numerous calls to the patient's primary physician regarding his declining condition as well as attempting to get medications to calm him and keep him comfortable.
This was unfortunately a difficult patient to care for not only because of the patient's medical needs, the patient was scheduled for a procedure that his family members were having internal disagreements about. Holly spent hours on the telephone with the patient's power of attorney, and his family, attempting to help them navigate this delicate situation and keeping them informed on the patient's condition.
She spent much of her weekend talking to the family and the physician trying to advocate for the patient. Holly was doing all of this while caring for two other patients who also needed her attention. Holly never stopped advocating for this patient. He was unable to communicate his needs, pain, fears, or how he was feeling to her. She kept calling his primary physician and updating her on his condition and attempting to get medications to help calm the patient, ease his anxiety and make him more comfortable. She never stopped calling his physician even if it meant three, four, or ten telephone calls. She urged the primary physician to contact family and neurosurgery regarding the patient's condition.
Holly not only spent much of her time advocating for her patient medically, but she also spent a lot of her weekend sitting at his bedside either doing her charting and talking to him or holding his hand. When Holly wasn't at his bedside, she was rounding on him about every 15 minutes, repositioning him, moving his pillows, or holding his hand, if only for a moment, to help calm him before moving on to her next task.
Holly's voice and touch seemed to calm the patient more than any medication could. I truly believe the patient saw her as an angel as she tried to comfort him even if he was unable to tell her so. You could see it in his eyes when she was in the room. It is safe to say this was challenging, both medically and emotionally. Holly went above and beyond to meet the needs of both the patient and the family. She gave 150% of herself.
This was unfortunately a difficult patient to care for not only because of the patient's medical needs, the patient was scheduled for a procedure that his family members were having internal disagreements about. Holly spent hours on the telephone with the patient's power of attorney, and his family, attempting to help them navigate this delicate situation and keeping them informed on the patient's condition.
She spent much of her weekend talking to the family and the physician trying to advocate for the patient. Holly was doing all of this while caring for two other patients who also needed her attention. Holly never stopped advocating for this patient. He was unable to communicate his needs, pain, fears, or how he was feeling to her. She kept calling his primary physician and updating her on his condition and attempting to get medications to help calm the patient, ease his anxiety and make him more comfortable. She never stopped calling his physician even if it meant three, four, or ten telephone calls. She urged the primary physician to contact family and neurosurgery regarding the patient's condition.
Holly not only spent much of her time advocating for her patient medically, but she also spent a lot of her weekend sitting at his bedside either doing her charting and talking to him or holding his hand. When Holly wasn't at his bedside, she was rounding on him about every 15 minutes, repositioning him, moving his pillows, or holding his hand, if only for a moment, to help calm him before moving on to her next task.
Holly's voice and touch seemed to calm the patient more than any medication could. I truly believe the patient saw her as an angel as she tried to comfort him even if he was unable to tell her so. You could see it in his eyes when she was in the room. It is safe to say this was challenging, both medically and emotionally. Holly went above and beyond to meet the needs of both the patient and the family. She gave 150% of herself.