Nekia Howard
July 2022
Nekia
Howard
,
RN
Ascension Macomb-Oakland Hospital, Madison Heights Campus
Madison Heights
,
MI
United States
Nekia was able to handle an emergency, gather a team of helpers, and knew when to call for the appropriate medical care necessary beyond her training.
During one day, ½ hour before Nekia's shift change, he had an emergency of excessive bleeding from his newly inserted ports. She tended quickly, jumped into action by utilizing others to assist while on the phone to the surgical unit. She was leading all to accomplish this emergency calmly, professionally, and with great knowledge knowing when to get surgeon's up to assist.
Talking a second time to the surgeons to get up immediately and not accepting any excuses. Nekia was able to handle an emergency, gather a team of helpers, and knew when to call for the appropriate medical care necessary beyond her training. She was quick, smart, calm, and was persistent not once but twice to have surgeons come again. There were many that day in the room, they jumped in and became followers and Nekia led them well. My husband was confident in her leadership. When things were under control, Nekia stayed past her shift until she felt comfortable all was well.
Throughout the three weeks, Nekia came to check on him. He had another major episode 48 hours later of bleeding which landed him in ICU. It did not go so smoothly as first. I know her being there made a huge difference. I really felt he was not going to make it and he called me and told me the same. The nurses that day did their best but just could not stop it. Surgeons came up, said they did their best and they did, but I had to step up and have the doctor come now. Blood was leaking everywhere. He immediately was sent to the ICU. Nekia came to visit him in the ICU. She answered some of my questions and was there many times to also console me, always willing to educate me on medications or procedures.
During the last of his stay before home bound, she continued to guide us in moments of sadness or confusion. She was ready to take charge in many ways with her knowledge, compassion, caring, and skill. I have great respect when I saw her in action as a leader and then a follower; it’s all a team effort. It was a blur that day and I don’t remember the others assisting but they jumped in and all were waiting with smiles when he came back to the 6th floor. Thank you for being there. You taught me how and to react, to move on to other situations. I now know it's okay, it’s going to be okay, new scary things but I now know how to handle it.
Talking a second time to the surgeons to get up immediately and not accepting any excuses. Nekia was able to handle an emergency, gather a team of helpers, and knew when to call for the appropriate medical care necessary beyond her training. She was quick, smart, calm, and was persistent not once but twice to have surgeons come again. There were many that day in the room, they jumped in and became followers and Nekia led them well. My husband was confident in her leadership. When things were under control, Nekia stayed past her shift until she felt comfortable all was well.
Throughout the three weeks, Nekia came to check on him. He had another major episode 48 hours later of bleeding which landed him in ICU. It did not go so smoothly as first. I know her being there made a huge difference. I really felt he was not going to make it and he called me and told me the same. The nurses that day did their best but just could not stop it. Surgeons came up, said they did their best and they did, but I had to step up and have the doctor come now. Blood was leaking everywhere. He immediately was sent to the ICU. Nekia came to visit him in the ICU. She answered some of my questions and was there many times to also console me, always willing to educate me on medications or procedures.
During the last of his stay before home bound, she continued to guide us in moments of sadness or confusion. She was ready to take charge in many ways with her knowledge, compassion, caring, and skill. I have great respect when I saw her in action as a leader and then a follower; it’s all a team effort. It was a blur that day and I don’t remember the others assisting but they jumped in and all were waiting with smiles when he came back to the 6th floor. Thank you for being there. You taught me how and to react, to move on to other situations. I now know it's okay, it’s going to be okay, new scary things but I now know how to handle it.