Steph stopped by my office to show me a card she received from a patient she cared for. The patient had written, “I know you were just doing your job, and some would say that it’s no big deal, but to me and my family, your willingness to stand up, pay attention and critically think through my care made all the difference.”

What happened was that Steph had thought the patient's resulting abnormal blood glucose was not in line with her patient’s condition and current symptoms. She questioned the doctor’s order for insulin and asked to resend another BMP level for comparison. The patient's actual blood glucose was 80 vs. the resulting high level that the Md had ordered 10 units of SQ insulin for. Steph reports that it was her “gut instinct” however I disagree. Steph has been a proficient and thorough nurse for 20+ years. She compliments her skill set with her Med-Surg certification, her Neonatal Resuscitation certification, and her TNCC certification. So in my opinion, this was an accomplished nurse using her critical thinking skills, not just a ‘gut feeling’.