Stephanie Mason
September 2021
Stephanie V.
Mason
,
BSN, RNC
Medical
Baystate Medical Center
Springfield
,
MA
United States
Such a thoughtful gesture not only calmed the patient but also helped to preserve his dignity, his identity, and his humanity and made him cognitively engaged.
Dementia is a disease of our autonomy. It’s a disease of our identity. Of all patients, older adults with dementia have the highest risk of being restrained when hospitalized. Patients may try to “escape” or “resist” care because they feel “lost” and afraid. One such patient was Mr. J. who was 90 years old and admitted to our unit for pneumonia that required IV antibiotics. He was also placed in restraints in the ED as he was trying to “escape”. On arrival to the floor, Stephanie Mason was assigned to him. While doing the assessment, she went above and beyond to calm the patient using nursing judgment and compassion to understand the patient’s current need that was leading to his “escape”. Stephanie removed the restraints and that calmed the patient immediately. She sat down with him and learned that the patient wanted to leave the hospital to “collect his paycheck” from his job as he thought he was still working. Stephanie pretended to interview him and then told him he was hired at Baystate and needed to stay in the hospital. She went on to print fake cash and gave it to the patient. Such a thoughtful gesture not only calmed the patient but also helped to preserve his dignity, his identity, and his humanity and made him cognitively engaged. This nurse’s exceptional caregiving provided comfort and care to a patient without the use of a prescription sedative or restraints and enabled the patient to be discharged home after his antibiotic course was finished.
This is one of the very many examples when I have seen Stephanie Mason’s compassionate caregiving where it’s not just work. She goes out of her way with palpable passion and energy to provide the best practice and compassionate care to older patients despite the challenges. She is a fierce advocate for the susceptible frail older adults to make sure that their quality of life is not compromised by hospitalization. Stephanie is the epitome of compassionate care and I feel very grateful to work beside her. She is a rock star!
This is one of the very many examples when I have seen Stephanie Mason’s compassionate caregiving where it’s not just work. She goes out of her way with palpable passion and energy to provide the best practice and compassionate care to older patients despite the challenges. She is a fierce advocate for the susceptible frail older adults to make sure that their quality of life is not compromised by hospitalization. Stephanie is the epitome of compassionate care and I feel very grateful to work beside her. She is a rock star!