Laurie Frieda
May 2022
Laurie
Frieda
,
LVN
Brenham Clinic
CHI St. Joseph Health Regional Hospital
Brenham
,
TX
United States
Knowing the patient well, Laurie immediately recognized that patient did not sound like herself, taking longer to answer questions, and sounding confused.
Laurie Frieda is absolutely the best LVN I have ever worked with in my 20+ year medical career. I trust her clinical judgment and am able to proceed through my clinic day seeing patients, having absolute confidence that Laurie is appropriately triaging calls, answering clinical questions over the phone, and sending me updates in a timely manner. Her phone skills are without equal: she is able to express compassion, understanding, empathy, and education through the phone better than any clinic staff I have ever worked with.
When giving patients results over the phone she makes sure they fully understand my written comments and adds appropriate explanations and education to help them achieve medical goals. Her compassionate, prompt, thorough, professional nursing skills are embodied in a recent patient phone encounter. One of our patients had been recently discharged from the hospital and rehab. As soon as Laurie received notice from the home health nurse that the patient was discharged back home, she called herself to check on her, review her current medications and needs, and arrange a follow-up with me.
Knowing the patient well, Laurie immediately recognized that patient did not sound like herself, taking longer to answer questions, and sounding confused. Knowing that the patient lives alone on her daughter's property in a rural area, Laurie immediately notified me and our MA, asking her to try to reach the daughter and to call 911. Laurie stayed on the phone with the patient, prompting her with questions and guidance to promote patient safety until EMS could arrive. The patient was too confused to use her glucometer or eat/drink something, but she was able to give Laurie simple answers on the phone. Given the rural location, it was several minutes until EMS arrived.
Upon their arrival, EMS discovered her glucose to be critically low (less than 30). She was transported to the local ER where her glucose repeatedly dropped and she was noted to be severely anemic--both issues that would have likely been fatal for her if Laurie had not gotten EMS to the patient that day. The patient was admitted to the ICU and has since recovered. This is just one example of the powerful effect Laurie has on the well-being of our patients. We hope that she is recognized beyond the walls of our clinic as a shining example of nursing excellence.
When giving patients results over the phone she makes sure they fully understand my written comments and adds appropriate explanations and education to help them achieve medical goals. Her compassionate, prompt, thorough, professional nursing skills are embodied in a recent patient phone encounter. One of our patients had been recently discharged from the hospital and rehab. As soon as Laurie received notice from the home health nurse that the patient was discharged back home, she called herself to check on her, review her current medications and needs, and arrange a follow-up with me.
Knowing the patient well, Laurie immediately recognized that patient did not sound like herself, taking longer to answer questions, and sounding confused. Knowing that the patient lives alone on her daughter's property in a rural area, Laurie immediately notified me and our MA, asking her to try to reach the daughter and to call 911. Laurie stayed on the phone with the patient, prompting her with questions and guidance to promote patient safety until EMS could arrive. The patient was too confused to use her glucometer or eat/drink something, but she was able to give Laurie simple answers on the phone. Given the rural location, it was several minutes until EMS arrived.
Upon their arrival, EMS discovered her glucose to be critically low (less than 30). She was transported to the local ER where her glucose repeatedly dropped and she was noted to be severely anemic--both issues that would have likely been fatal for her if Laurie had not gotten EMS to the patient that day. The patient was admitted to the ICU and has since recovered. This is just one example of the powerful effect Laurie has on the well-being of our patients. We hope that she is recognized beyond the walls of our clinic as a shining example of nursing excellence.