Lauren recently was promoted to the CNC role. On countless occasions, Lauren can be found staying late or running around trying to help the unit manage many medically complex patients. This particular day, we had a very agitated patient that gave the staff a run for their money. Lauren was in the patient's room all day helping to calm the patient and keep her safe. Towards the end of her shift, the patient became increasingly more agitated and the incoming shift was having difficulties managing the patient. Lauren stayed hours after her shift attempting to keep the patient safe, finding ways to distract the patient and keep her from hurting staff and herself. Ultimately the patient had to be sent out LOA because we were unable to manage her behaviors and she need further work up in hopes of finding out what was causing this behavior. Lauren stayed well past 9 pm into the evening shift on a Friday night until the patient safely made it out the door with the EMTs.

The patient recently emailed me that she was discharged and wanted to share a special thank you. Please see her message below titled “Thank you for everything”

“Hi,

So wanted to drop you a thank you note and Laureen and all of floor 19 nursing.

To be bluntly honest I have never had that severe of agitation ever. Thank you to you and Lauren for helping me remain safe. I know I’m not easy and rather hard work. Everyone knows or should know that nursing is hard work and can be daunting at times. But no one thinks about the care and compassion that can be shown when someone is beyond stressed or agitated. Simply put your nurses are exceptional at what they do and how they care for the patient. I was reminded of that at another facility when a nurse had Mr. P (my comfort item) taken. The sheer panic that came over me was huge. That nurse was anything but kind. Well that's beside the point. Lauren you along with all the nursing staff had every right to scream run or even swear at me. I'm also pretty sure catheters should be outlawed when it comes to dancing. That's pretty much all I remember from that night. (Lauren helped distract her with music and dancing)

I did have to explain to my mom how a cath ended on a blanket and the thought process. But hey my point being is that compassion goes a long way and should be stated. With COVID, medicine has changed and not for the better but what remains is nurses who care and work hard. That can't be replaced. Please share with your staff that I’m home and I and my Mr. P are just hanging in bed.”

The whole team on 19 worked very hard to keep the patient safe. However, Lauren went above and beyond her duties as a CNC. Giving up her Friday night after having a difficult shift herself. The note from the patient shows just how much of an impact Lauren’s kind heart made on this patient. Taking extra time, and finding different ways to distract the patient and keep her safe is exactly what a DAISY Nurse exemplifies.