January 2023
Melanie
Ervin
,
RN
MED/NEURO
Elkhart General Hospital
Elkhart
,
IN
United States
Her ability to read the situation and respond accordingly is not something that can be taught. She just has an inherent gift for effective communication. Lanie’s positive communication skills were also valuable as she did her best to keep a smile on my mom’s face with a kind or sassy remark.
When you find yourself or a loved one in the hospital, a truly talented nurse becomes such an integral part of the recovery journey. While nurses are defined as licensed professionals skilled in promoting and maintaining health, one nurse was also a therapist, an advocate, and an integral part of our support system. In our experience in the Med/Neuro Unit at Elkhart General Hospital, we were fortunate enough to be blessed with a few good nurses. Just as cream rises to the top, however, nurse Lanie did as well.
It’s hard to pick one story to share regarding our experience with Lanie because we had so many instances where she went above and beyond in her care of my mother and our entire family. Please indulge me as I share a few moments that stick out in stark contrast to the stress of the hospital experience. Before my mother had a firm diagnosis of HSV1 Encephalitis, the doctors were doing CT scans and MRIs looking for brain trauma and stroke indications. Lots of unfamiliar terms were being thrown around by doctors and I was frantically trying to keep up. Lanie took time to define and explain every term we needed help with. In addition, when we didn’t understand why the doctors were concerned about a particular lab result, Lanie explained why that result was important and why the doctors would continue to monitor it. Her proactive communication skills lessened our anxiety about the situation and empowered us to make informed decisions regarding my mother’s care. In another instance, my mother was going in for a lumbar puncture and I was extremely nervous. After they wheeled my mother away for the procedure, Lanie asked me a question, which led to a fun conversation. Before I knew it, my mom was being wheeled back. Lanie’s kind distraction helped to keep me calm during the procedure. I didn’t realize it at the time, but the move was calculated and deliberate. She didn’t want me to sit by myself and worry, so she engaged in a lively conversation and even made me laugh during a tense and exhausting week. Her ability to read the situation and respond accordingly is not something that can be taught. She just has an inherent gift for effective communication. Lanie’s positive communication skills were also valuable as she did her best to keep a smile on my mom’s face with a kind or sassy remark. She was careful to maintain my mom’s dignity while providing care. She always treated my mom like an adult. Even when my mom was making no sense, Lanie Spoke to her like she did.
Regarding my mother’s care, Lanie was a compassionate problem solver. She interpreted data and monitored a care plan for my mom. She researched care options, followed up with doctors, and pushed for clarification when orders seemed amiss. She was meticulous in reading data and lab results which provided exceptional care and made us feel attended to and cared for.
She also looked beyond traditional patient care when she expressed concern over my mother’s hair. MRIs and EEGs took a toll on my mom’s beautiful hair and Lanie had devised a plan to give my mom a real hair wash. Unfortunately, I had to scrap the plan because we were informed that a third EEG was scheduled for the next day, but knowing that she had even devised a plan was enough to cement in me that Lanie is the example other nurses need to strive to be like.
We have been in the hospital for over two weeks, so I easily could fill several pages of Lanie stories. I hope that the examples I have chosen to highlight speak to the myriad of reasons why Lanie is a DAISY Nurse.
***
Lanie recognized right away that a BMP had not been done and ordered it ASAP. She knew my mom’s sodium may be critically low, and it was. I truly believe she saved my mom’s life or at least from falling into a coma. She caught this error and took quick action, demonstrating her clinical expertise. She clearly communicated to us what the plans were for Mom’s care and was so comforting to all of us. She instills trust in her patients and their families which is so very important. She knows what she is doing, and it shows!
It’s hard to pick one story to share regarding our experience with Lanie because we had so many instances where she went above and beyond in her care of my mother and our entire family. Please indulge me as I share a few moments that stick out in stark contrast to the stress of the hospital experience. Before my mother had a firm diagnosis of HSV1 Encephalitis, the doctors were doing CT scans and MRIs looking for brain trauma and stroke indications. Lots of unfamiliar terms were being thrown around by doctors and I was frantically trying to keep up. Lanie took time to define and explain every term we needed help with. In addition, when we didn’t understand why the doctors were concerned about a particular lab result, Lanie explained why that result was important and why the doctors would continue to monitor it. Her proactive communication skills lessened our anxiety about the situation and empowered us to make informed decisions regarding my mother’s care. In another instance, my mother was going in for a lumbar puncture and I was extremely nervous. After they wheeled my mother away for the procedure, Lanie asked me a question, which led to a fun conversation. Before I knew it, my mom was being wheeled back. Lanie’s kind distraction helped to keep me calm during the procedure. I didn’t realize it at the time, but the move was calculated and deliberate. She didn’t want me to sit by myself and worry, so she engaged in a lively conversation and even made me laugh during a tense and exhausting week. Her ability to read the situation and respond accordingly is not something that can be taught. She just has an inherent gift for effective communication. Lanie’s positive communication skills were also valuable as she did her best to keep a smile on my mom’s face with a kind or sassy remark. She was careful to maintain my mom’s dignity while providing care. She always treated my mom like an adult. Even when my mom was making no sense, Lanie Spoke to her like she did.
Regarding my mother’s care, Lanie was a compassionate problem solver. She interpreted data and monitored a care plan for my mom. She researched care options, followed up with doctors, and pushed for clarification when orders seemed amiss. She was meticulous in reading data and lab results which provided exceptional care and made us feel attended to and cared for.
She also looked beyond traditional patient care when she expressed concern over my mother’s hair. MRIs and EEGs took a toll on my mom’s beautiful hair and Lanie had devised a plan to give my mom a real hair wash. Unfortunately, I had to scrap the plan because we were informed that a third EEG was scheduled for the next day, but knowing that she had even devised a plan was enough to cement in me that Lanie is the example other nurses need to strive to be like.
We have been in the hospital for over two weeks, so I easily could fill several pages of Lanie stories. I hope that the examples I have chosen to highlight speak to the myriad of reasons why Lanie is a DAISY Nurse.
***
Lanie recognized right away that a BMP had not been done and ordered it ASAP. She knew my mom’s sodium may be critically low, and it was. I truly believe she saved my mom’s life or at least from falling into a coma. She caught this error and took quick action, demonstrating her clinical expertise. She clearly communicated to us what the plans were for Mom’s care and was so comforting to all of us. She instills trust in her patients and their families which is so very important. She knows what she is doing, and it shows!