Kristen Penn
March 2024
Kristen
Penn
,
RN
4 Wiser
University of Mississippi Medical Center
Jackson
,
MS
United States
Kristen brought the patient makeup and all sorts of other things to make her feel special. The next day, the patient had full makeup on and dolled up. She does not have many clothes, and Kristen took some of them home and washed them for her so she would have clean clothes.
Our patient population is a bit different. We have many patients who have been here long term. There are times when 20 or our 30 patients require some sort of placement, whether it be rehab, SNF, or long-term placement.
We have a patient who has been on 4Wiser since December. She was brought in to be placed in a nursing home or assisted living. She has worsening dementia and has days that are better than others. Her family lives in Colorado and is unable to take care of her. When she originally got to the unit, she was very confused. She has been moved closer to the unit so that she can interact more with the staff. She is now very alert and is walking around and taking care of herself. She does not have family to visit.
Several weeks ago, she was very agitated and slapped a nurse. She was put in restraints and was left in them for several days. When Kristen got here, she was wild and all over the place. She got her settled down, gave her a shower, and helped her get calmed down. She has not been in restraints since.
Last week, Kristen brought the patient makeup and all sorts of other things to make her feel special. The next day, the patient had full makeup on and dolled up. She does not have many clothes, and Kristen took some of them home and washed them for her so she would have clean clothes.
Today, Kristen brought her some more clothes that some of her girls had grown out of, and she brought her some earrings. The patient and her have this bond that is a special bond that many of our nurses have with many patients. The patient is very picky and does not want “plain clothes” like sweats.
We have a patient that is not a US Citizen and SW cannot provide him with the discharge medication he needs. He has been in the hospital for 11 days and is going to be sent home with 2 antibiotics for 7 days. The patient came in with abscess and really needed the 2 antibiotics to finish the treatment course. He will have to pay for them out of pocket. He has no money due to not working while in the hospital. SW told Kristen to call MNT to find out the cost. Kristen went to Meds N threads and bought the meds so the patient would have his medications. She also gave him some dressing supplies to help with the dressing changes. The medication was $43.00 and Kristen and another nurse spilt the cost and bought it for the patient. She also purchased his Lantus so he would have it as well.
Nurses are often mistreated just because they are the closest to the patient. But it is times such as this that lets you know that they are in nursing for the caring aspect. Kristen did not have to take the patient's clothes home, she did not have to purchase earrings and make up for her but she did and the patient was so grateful. This has calmed the patient and helped ease her mind.
I want to thank Kristen for taking the time to make sure this patient knows that she is cared for and loved.
We have a patient who has been on 4Wiser since December. She was brought in to be placed in a nursing home or assisted living. She has worsening dementia and has days that are better than others. Her family lives in Colorado and is unable to take care of her. When she originally got to the unit, she was very confused. She has been moved closer to the unit so that she can interact more with the staff. She is now very alert and is walking around and taking care of herself. She does not have family to visit.
Several weeks ago, she was very agitated and slapped a nurse. She was put in restraints and was left in them for several days. When Kristen got here, she was wild and all over the place. She got her settled down, gave her a shower, and helped her get calmed down. She has not been in restraints since.
Last week, Kristen brought the patient makeup and all sorts of other things to make her feel special. The next day, the patient had full makeup on and dolled up. She does not have many clothes, and Kristen took some of them home and washed them for her so she would have clean clothes.
Today, Kristen brought her some more clothes that some of her girls had grown out of, and she brought her some earrings. The patient and her have this bond that is a special bond that many of our nurses have with many patients. The patient is very picky and does not want “plain clothes” like sweats.
We have a patient that is not a US Citizen and SW cannot provide him with the discharge medication he needs. He has been in the hospital for 11 days and is going to be sent home with 2 antibiotics for 7 days. The patient came in with abscess and really needed the 2 antibiotics to finish the treatment course. He will have to pay for them out of pocket. He has no money due to not working while in the hospital. SW told Kristen to call MNT to find out the cost. Kristen went to Meds N threads and bought the meds so the patient would have his medications. She also gave him some dressing supplies to help with the dressing changes. The medication was $43.00 and Kristen and another nurse spilt the cost and bought it for the patient. She also purchased his Lantus so he would have it as well.
Nurses are often mistreated just because they are the closest to the patient. But it is times such as this that lets you know that they are in nursing for the caring aspect. Kristen did not have to take the patient's clothes home, she did not have to purchase earrings and make up for her but she did and the patient was so grateful. This has calmed the patient and helped ease her mind.
I want to thank Kristen for taking the time to make sure this patient knows that she is cared for and loved.