November 2021
Dora
Sherrard
,
RN
Intermediate Care Unit
Frye Regional Medical Center
Hickory
,
NC
United States
She sought out and found anything and everything that even MIGHT bring me relief.
Patient advocacy is an important nursing skill. In fact, it might be argued that the ability to advocate for a patient's rights and needs is just as important as strong assessment skills or technical skills, like starting an IV. This nurse was nominated for their continued pursuance to meet a patient's basic care needs. In the nomination, the patient reports being afflicted by bouts of intractable hiccups, causing severe abdominal spasms and difficulty breathing. The worst of these sessions occurred late one night when this nurse was on duty. According to the patient, this nurse "took it upon herself to spare no effort in finding relief for me." A call to the physician resulted in no additional medications ordered, but instead of giving up, this nurse stiffened her resolve to find a resolution. The patient stated, "She sought out and found anything and everything that even MIGHT bring me relief. She stayed in touch with my wife through the entire ordeal. She was consummately professional. She never said anything negative about the physician and contacted her supervisor for help." The patient went on to say how embarrassed he was for accidentally wetting the bed, stating, "she was incredibly respectful and sensitive to my self-inflicted humiliation. She changed the bed linens quietly and without complaint and without saying anything publicly about the incident." "Basically, she treated me as a suffering human being who deserved nothing less than 100% devotion. She gave that to me. NO ONE could come close to her professionalism and humanity."