Diane Patino
May 2024
Diane
Patino
,
BSN, RN, VA-BC
Vascular Access Team
Edward Hospital
Naperville
,
IL
United States
Diane stayed after her scheduled hours, came to my hospital room, and put in a midline. She was so kind, compassionate and understanding as to what I was going through.
There are some people who just do their job, and then there are those who you meet, and you know that their job is part of who they are. I met such a person, a nurse named Diane, who is on the vascular access team at Edward Hospital. I was admitted there for a serious bacterial infection, which required daily IV antibiotics as this bacteria began destroying my right hand and arm, traveling very quickly.
I spent nine days in the hospital and had four hand surgeries as part of the process to rid my body of this deadly infection. As I continued IV antibiotics, a problem arose where my veins kept collapsing. It was a Saturday when I needed to have a new IV put in, and this is when I met Diane. The IV team was due to leave at noon on Saturday, but Diane went above and beyond her duties, as she stayed after her scheduled hours, came to my hospital room, and put in a midline. She was so kind, compassionate and understanding as to what I was going through....truly a professional in her field. It was three days later when I began feeling some burning in my arm with the midline, and without hesitation, Diane returned to my room with all her equipment, determined to find out why this was happening.
Of course, I was scared, not understanding any of it, but Diane comforted me and used her skilled knowledge to do an ultrasound on my veins. She said it showed clotting at the site, and she assured me that putting in a PICC line would be the best for me as she found an appropriate vein. She contacted the infectious disease doctor to explain my situation. This was a very rare bacteria that seemed to be taking over my body, and because of the urgency of it, Diane's prompt actions played an extremely big role in helping me on my way to healing. I had necrotizing fasciitis. And so this is my story. I will end with this...I actually have a daisy tattoo on my shoulder of the arm that Diane worked on. When I heard there is a DAISY Award for nurses, I knew I needed to nominate this outstanding, caring, and compassionate nurse for such an award. I nominate Diane, who definitely brought sunshine into this uncertain, dark time in my life. Diane is an exceptional nurse.
I spent nine days in the hospital and had four hand surgeries as part of the process to rid my body of this deadly infection. As I continued IV antibiotics, a problem arose where my veins kept collapsing. It was a Saturday when I needed to have a new IV put in, and this is when I met Diane. The IV team was due to leave at noon on Saturday, but Diane went above and beyond her duties, as she stayed after her scheduled hours, came to my hospital room, and put in a midline. She was so kind, compassionate and understanding as to what I was going through....truly a professional in her field. It was three days later when I began feeling some burning in my arm with the midline, and without hesitation, Diane returned to my room with all her equipment, determined to find out why this was happening.
Of course, I was scared, not understanding any of it, but Diane comforted me and used her skilled knowledge to do an ultrasound on my veins. She said it showed clotting at the site, and she assured me that putting in a PICC line would be the best for me as she found an appropriate vein. She contacted the infectious disease doctor to explain my situation. This was a very rare bacteria that seemed to be taking over my body, and because of the urgency of it, Diane's prompt actions played an extremely big role in helping me on my way to healing. I had necrotizing fasciitis. And so this is my story. I will end with this...I actually have a daisy tattoo on my shoulder of the arm that Diane worked on. When I heard there is a DAISY Award for nurses, I knew I needed to nominate this outstanding, caring, and compassionate nurse for such an award. I nominate Diane, who definitely brought sunshine into this uncertain, dark time in my life. Diane is an exceptional nurse.