Jennifer Rios
October 2024
Jennifer
Rios
,
BSN, RN
HOMES Program
Parkland Health
Dallas
,
TX
United States
Jen never backed down, persuading the patient to seek further medical help. Jen explained the patient’s current situation and the possible complications that could arise if she didn’t get checked immediately due to her underlying conditions.
Our department covers more than 25 ambulatory locations for medical and dental services every week, catering to a diverse demographic that includes patients from newborns to the elderly. Among all the nurses, Jen truly stood out.
We typically avoid pediatric clinic rotations due to the challenges of working with children, especially in this particular clinic because it's a Child Protective Services (CPS) drop-off shelter for kids who are taken away from the parents due to family issues. Initially, Jen expressed her apprehension, stating, “I don’t have a good experience with Pedi” on her first day to that clinic. Most of her clinic rotations had been with the adult population. However, she navigated her way through this unfamiliar territory and, almost unconsciously, developed a genuine affinity for it. Jen has now mastered performing bloodwork on our pediatric patients and is equally skilled with adults. She has a unique and effective way of explaining to kids about the point-of-care procedures and bloodwork procedures, making them feel at ease. This is particularly impressive given the nature of our clinic, which often deals with traumatized children who may have behavioral and suppressed emotional issues stemming from family situations.
***
Recently, a patient arrived at the Bridge Ambulatory HOMES Clinic for a medical visit, complaining of shortness of breath (SOB) related to her asthma and requesting hypertensive medications. The patient, who had been homeless for over a month, reported not currently taking any medications, including those for blood pressure (BP). Despite denying pain, I observed her slow and unsteady gait when I called her in from the waiting area for triaging.
During the intake, the patient emphasized her primary concerns were hypertension and breathing issues. Reviewing her chart history, I discovered she had an uncontrolled A1C taken last month, indicating diabetes. Her initial BP reading was alarmingly high at 214/99, and she denied any chest pain. Further investigation revealed she had undergone kidney dialysis just last month, although she hadn’t mentioned it initially because it wasn’t her main concern. After rechecking her BP a few minutes later, it had risen to 223/107. Unfortunately, we didn’t have a provider available at that moment due to an unexpected morning traffic in the downtown area.
Feeling overwhelmed by the situation, I prompted Nurse Jennifer about the patient. Without any hesitation, she immediately jumped into action. Jen thoroughly reviewed the patient’s chart history and discovered that the patient had been undergoing bi-monthly dialysis sessions before arriving at the shelter facility. Jen stayed with the patient, asking additional questions to gather more information. When the BP spiked again, we decided to call for an ambulance for an urgent medical check-up.
Initially, the patient was reluctant to go, worried that she might not get a “mat” to sleep on if she missed the medical appointment that morning, which was necessary for homeless patients to get their documents processed. While I was calling our manager about the situation, Jen came to me and insisted we call 911. She never backed down, persuading the patient to seek further medical help. Jen explained the patient’s current situation and the possible complications that could arise if she didn’t get checked immediately due to her underlying conditions. It took a few minutes, but Jen’s persistence paid off, and the patient agreed to go. Jen even printed the patient’s discharge papers to have them ready for the paramedics.
***
This is not the first time I have witnessed Jen in her element. She is incredibly quick-minded and always steps in when needed. Every time we cover the clinic together, she has been a tremendous help. Although she has her own provider, Jen is highly attuned to her surroundings and often takes the initiative to assist with my patients. Whether it’s discharging patients, providing health education, performing bloodwork, or handling point-of-care tasks ordered by my provider, Jen does it all seamlessly. She often informs me afterward, saying, “I did it,” and ensures everything is properly documented.
Jen’s dedication is unwavering. She will not leave or end her shift until everything is settled. She tirelessly offers her help and frequently discharges patients herself when I am occupied with other screenings. Jen embodies the qualities of a cool, calm, and organized nurse who truly represents the spirit of the DAISY Award. Her commitment to patient care and her supportive nature make her an invaluable asset to our team.
We typically avoid pediatric clinic rotations due to the challenges of working with children, especially in this particular clinic because it's a Child Protective Services (CPS) drop-off shelter for kids who are taken away from the parents due to family issues. Initially, Jen expressed her apprehension, stating, “I don’t have a good experience with Pedi” on her first day to that clinic. Most of her clinic rotations had been with the adult population. However, she navigated her way through this unfamiliar territory and, almost unconsciously, developed a genuine affinity for it. Jen has now mastered performing bloodwork on our pediatric patients and is equally skilled with adults. She has a unique and effective way of explaining to kids about the point-of-care procedures and bloodwork procedures, making them feel at ease. This is particularly impressive given the nature of our clinic, which often deals with traumatized children who may have behavioral and suppressed emotional issues stemming from family situations.
***
Recently, a patient arrived at the Bridge Ambulatory HOMES Clinic for a medical visit, complaining of shortness of breath (SOB) related to her asthma and requesting hypertensive medications. The patient, who had been homeless for over a month, reported not currently taking any medications, including those for blood pressure (BP). Despite denying pain, I observed her slow and unsteady gait when I called her in from the waiting area for triaging.
During the intake, the patient emphasized her primary concerns were hypertension and breathing issues. Reviewing her chart history, I discovered she had an uncontrolled A1C taken last month, indicating diabetes. Her initial BP reading was alarmingly high at 214/99, and she denied any chest pain. Further investigation revealed she had undergone kidney dialysis just last month, although she hadn’t mentioned it initially because it wasn’t her main concern. After rechecking her BP a few minutes later, it had risen to 223/107. Unfortunately, we didn’t have a provider available at that moment due to an unexpected morning traffic in the downtown area.
Feeling overwhelmed by the situation, I prompted Nurse Jennifer about the patient. Without any hesitation, she immediately jumped into action. Jen thoroughly reviewed the patient’s chart history and discovered that the patient had been undergoing bi-monthly dialysis sessions before arriving at the shelter facility. Jen stayed with the patient, asking additional questions to gather more information. When the BP spiked again, we decided to call for an ambulance for an urgent medical check-up.
Initially, the patient was reluctant to go, worried that she might not get a “mat” to sleep on if she missed the medical appointment that morning, which was necessary for homeless patients to get their documents processed. While I was calling our manager about the situation, Jen came to me and insisted we call 911. She never backed down, persuading the patient to seek further medical help. Jen explained the patient’s current situation and the possible complications that could arise if she didn’t get checked immediately due to her underlying conditions. It took a few minutes, but Jen’s persistence paid off, and the patient agreed to go. Jen even printed the patient’s discharge papers to have them ready for the paramedics.
***
This is not the first time I have witnessed Jen in her element. She is incredibly quick-minded and always steps in when needed. Every time we cover the clinic together, she has been a tremendous help. Although she has her own provider, Jen is highly attuned to her surroundings and often takes the initiative to assist with my patients. Whether it’s discharging patients, providing health education, performing bloodwork, or handling point-of-care tasks ordered by my provider, Jen does it all seamlessly. She often informs me afterward, saying, “I did it,” and ensures everything is properly documented.
Jen’s dedication is unwavering. She will not leave or end her shift until everything is settled. She tirelessly offers her help and frequently discharges patients herself when I am occupied with other screenings. Jen embodies the qualities of a cool, calm, and organized nurse who truly represents the spirit of the DAISY Award. Her commitment to patient care and her supportive nature make her an invaluable asset to our team.