Kristen Breem
May 2021
Kristen
Breem
,
RN
Lunder 7 Neurology
Massachusetts General Hospital
Kristen arranged the equipment, and the ZOOM information, called my daughter who contacted the rest of my family, and I was able to see and speak with my family, which lifted my emotions.
I was admitted with a stroke complicated by minor facial palsy and mild to moderate aphasia. I was sent to MGH with no means of identification, no personal items, just the bags with my coat, nightgown, and sweater from a hospital in New Hampshire. The last time I had seen or spoken to my husband was five hours before my admission to MGH.
Following three days of delirium, my awareness and orientation began to return to my usual baseline. On day 4, Ms. Breem was assigned to my care. From the first moment, she appeared extremely knowledgeable regarding my condition and the care that I needed. Her approach to my care was comprehensive including all my needs and preferences. Here are some of the examples of why Ms. Breem is a DAISY Nurse:
1) She was aware that I had had breast cancer and saw that an IV was in my right hand. Per care recommendations for a woman post-CA surgery and radiation, she discontinued the IV, put it in my left arm, then put a pink wrist band on my right arm as a sign for staff not to put IVs in this arm and put a notice over the bed.
2) Throughout her shift she monitored my pain level frequently and promptly contacted the physician when the pain medication ordered needed to be altered to provide comfort to me.
3) When she realized that I could not read or complete dietary forms because I did not have my glasses with me, she promptly went to find reading glasses or some other device that would enable me to read. She found a magnifying glass from an office, which enabled me to read and increased my orientation ability.
4) By this day, as the delirium was diminishing and I was feeling more alert, I was feeling extremely disconnected from my husband of 47 years and my children, especially my five-week-old granddaughter whom I hadn't seen. I hadn't spoken to my husband regarding my admission to MGH nor the plan for my care. When I tried to use the phone in the room, it would not allow me to make a call to New Hampshire where I live. It was considered a long-distance call. The disconnect was beginning to affect my mood and feeling of well-being. Ms. Breem suggested that I ZOOM my family. She arranged the equipment, and the ZOOM information, called my daughter who contacted the rest of my family, and I was able to see and speak with my family, which lifted my emotions. We were able to ZOOM every day until my discharge.
5) She helped plan so that I could call my husband and provide him with the phone number to my room so he could call me whenever he wanted. Please remember, we had been together every day over the past year due to COVID quarantine. This separation was extremely stressful for both of us.
6) When Ms. Breem asked if I would like a shower, I was so excited. She had the shower area prepared so that I would be able to be comfortable, considering my drains, etc. Shampoo was measured out and convenient for use. She provided a great deal of assistance. Afterward, I looked and felt like a new person. Over the years, I have had hospital admissions for surgery, but never did I have the RN assigned to my care provide the hands-on care that I received that day.
7) Ms. Breem continued to integrate my preferences throughout the day as she talked with me, getting to know my history, getting to know me which was not possible the first 3-4 days due to the delirium I was experiencing. The following days, it was clear that she documented and/or passed this information on to the other nurses assigned to me. When they came on, they would talk with me utilizing the personal information that Ms. Breem passed on. The staff began to see a very different person than was assessed on admission.
8) Throughout her shift, she was mindful of my need for dignity and respect always addressing me as an adult and including me in my care decisions. And as I stated before, it was very clear that my personal story, my personal needs were documented and utilized by every shift throughout the rest of my stay at MGH.
Thank you, Ms. Breem, for the wonderful care you provided me.
Following three days of delirium, my awareness and orientation began to return to my usual baseline. On day 4, Ms. Breem was assigned to my care. From the first moment, she appeared extremely knowledgeable regarding my condition and the care that I needed. Her approach to my care was comprehensive including all my needs and preferences. Here are some of the examples of why Ms. Breem is a DAISY Nurse:
1) She was aware that I had had breast cancer and saw that an IV was in my right hand. Per care recommendations for a woman post-CA surgery and radiation, she discontinued the IV, put it in my left arm, then put a pink wrist band on my right arm as a sign for staff not to put IVs in this arm and put a notice over the bed.
2) Throughout her shift she monitored my pain level frequently and promptly contacted the physician when the pain medication ordered needed to be altered to provide comfort to me.
3) When she realized that I could not read or complete dietary forms because I did not have my glasses with me, she promptly went to find reading glasses or some other device that would enable me to read. She found a magnifying glass from an office, which enabled me to read and increased my orientation ability.
4) By this day, as the delirium was diminishing and I was feeling more alert, I was feeling extremely disconnected from my husband of 47 years and my children, especially my five-week-old granddaughter whom I hadn't seen. I hadn't spoken to my husband regarding my admission to MGH nor the plan for my care. When I tried to use the phone in the room, it would not allow me to make a call to New Hampshire where I live. It was considered a long-distance call. The disconnect was beginning to affect my mood and feeling of well-being. Ms. Breem suggested that I ZOOM my family. She arranged the equipment, and the ZOOM information, called my daughter who contacted the rest of my family, and I was able to see and speak with my family, which lifted my emotions. We were able to ZOOM every day until my discharge.
5) She helped plan so that I could call my husband and provide him with the phone number to my room so he could call me whenever he wanted. Please remember, we had been together every day over the past year due to COVID quarantine. This separation was extremely stressful for both of us.
6) When Ms. Breem asked if I would like a shower, I was so excited. She had the shower area prepared so that I would be able to be comfortable, considering my drains, etc. Shampoo was measured out and convenient for use. She provided a great deal of assistance. Afterward, I looked and felt like a new person. Over the years, I have had hospital admissions for surgery, but never did I have the RN assigned to my care provide the hands-on care that I received that day.
7) Ms. Breem continued to integrate my preferences throughout the day as she talked with me, getting to know my history, getting to know me which was not possible the first 3-4 days due to the delirium I was experiencing. The following days, it was clear that she documented and/or passed this information on to the other nurses assigned to me. When they came on, they would talk with me utilizing the personal information that Ms. Breem passed on. The staff began to see a very different person than was assessed on admission.
8) Throughout her shift, she was mindful of my need for dignity and respect always addressing me as an adult and including me in my care decisions. And as I stated before, it was very clear that my personal story, my personal needs were documented and utilized by every shift throughout the rest of my stay at MGH.
Thank you, Ms. Breem, for the wonderful care you provided me.