Rachel Overig
October 2024
Rachel
Overig
,
RN
Neurosciences
Gillette Children's
St Paul
,
MN
United States
Rachel ensures the patients who cannot advocate for themselves and/or don't have a parent bedside are getting the care she would want for her own family.
If I was a patient in the hospital, I would hope Rachel was my nurse. Not only does her compassion inspire me to be a better nurse, but she empowers patients and their families to feel hopeful in their hardest moments in life.
Rachel is a fierce advocate for her patients and their families and goes the extra mile for families that are less likely to advocate for themselves. I think back on times that Rachel's care has stood out to me - and each and every time she could have been nominated for this award - she wouldn't have been because the patients/families that she gives everything she has for are the ones who are overlooked and likely wouldn't write a nomination. The patients and families who understand the extent of Rachel's extraordinary care are the ones who don't have anything left to give, let alone write a nomination.
Rachel's dedication to her patients who are alone without families (any number of our nonaccidental trauma patients), non-English speaking, or who are overwhelmed by their admission are the exact people who would be able to tell the stories of why Rachel deserves this award but are not in a position to do so.
Because of this, I wanted to bring light to all of the amazing ways I have seen Rachel demonstrate extraordinary care, knowing that I am only witnessing a fraction of what she does and the impact she makes.
Rachel is someone who will ensure that everything that needs to be done is done to the highest standard - medications, assessments, helping her coworkers, coordinating care, etc. and when most nurses would sit down to chart - Rachel ensures the patients who cannot advocate for themselves and/or don't have a parent bedside are getting the care she would want for her own family.
A teenage girl admitted for a bowel cleanout who had spent several days being changed over and over again was sad and felt disgusting. Her parents were not at the bedside to comfort her as she cried from the soreness while Rachel tried her best to wipe her gently. Her parents were not there to witness Rachel, who was not even this patient's nurse and had her own assignment to care for, gather the proper 'curly girl' hair supplies and take time to wash her hair and her body - jamming out to Taylor Swift and calling her "Queen" to make her smile. Her parents, who didn't speak English, were not there to write Rachel a DAISY Nomination - but I'm sure they would have if they had seen the way their daughter glowed after spending time with Rachel.
A young boy who was admitted after being abused by his family for about a decade with trauma and distrust for us all bonded with Rachel immediately. She made sure to provide him with exactly what he needed, wanted, and cared for him in a way he's probably never been cared for before. She met him with compassion and understanding, speaking softly to him but advocating for him fiercely on the other side of his door. When he wasn't eating due to years of malnourishment and neglect, she learned he loved ice cream but that he thought it would be better if it had sprinkles. Rachel showed up the next shift with a large container of sprinkles for all the nursing staff to add to his ice cream and got creative, thinking maybe he would eat pancakes or an actual meal if it had sprinkles on it, too.
A boy who has been readmitted over and over again, getting more and more discouraged with each complication he's faced, was waiting for a surgical plan so he could get home to attend his summer basketball camp. Over several weeks, Rachel flawlessly translated everything from every specialty team involved (neurosurgery, pediatrics, cardiovascular, general surgery, ID, etc.) so the family could keep it all straight - reminding them who was who and making sure she was present for every conversation she could be in order to ensure the various medical teams were not contradicting each other and confusing the family/patient more. She sat down and explained things to the patient in words he understood, partnering with Child Life and making sure he was able to play games and find joy while being "stuck" here waiting for a plan. At one point, there was a disagreement about whether he needed a new PIV prior to imaging, and even the evening nurse and charge nurse were confused by the plan. When Rachel came on the next morning, she ensured every medical team was on the same page again and coordinated the IV start. Because he had seen and heard Rachel advocate for him over the last several weeks so many times, once the IV was placed, he said something along the lines of: "thank goodness you got that - Rachel was going to be upset otherwise".
Rachel perfectly portrays patient advocacy and exceeds the expectations for quality patient care with every patient she encounters - but more importantly - she truly shines when taking care of the families who will never thank her and for the patients who don't have anyone else looking out for them. She has a constant focus on providing the highest standard of care for the patients she serves, and she is never too busy for anyone around her - patients and coworkers alike. If I was in the hospital, truly, I would want Rachel to be my nurse.
Rachel is a fierce advocate for her patients and their families and goes the extra mile for families that are less likely to advocate for themselves. I think back on times that Rachel's care has stood out to me - and each and every time she could have been nominated for this award - she wouldn't have been because the patients/families that she gives everything she has for are the ones who are overlooked and likely wouldn't write a nomination. The patients and families who understand the extent of Rachel's extraordinary care are the ones who don't have anything left to give, let alone write a nomination.
Rachel's dedication to her patients who are alone without families (any number of our nonaccidental trauma patients), non-English speaking, or who are overwhelmed by their admission are the exact people who would be able to tell the stories of why Rachel deserves this award but are not in a position to do so.
Because of this, I wanted to bring light to all of the amazing ways I have seen Rachel demonstrate extraordinary care, knowing that I am only witnessing a fraction of what she does and the impact she makes.
Rachel is someone who will ensure that everything that needs to be done is done to the highest standard - medications, assessments, helping her coworkers, coordinating care, etc. and when most nurses would sit down to chart - Rachel ensures the patients who cannot advocate for themselves and/or don't have a parent bedside are getting the care she would want for her own family.
A teenage girl admitted for a bowel cleanout who had spent several days being changed over and over again was sad and felt disgusting. Her parents were not at the bedside to comfort her as she cried from the soreness while Rachel tried her best to wipe her gently. Her parents were not there to witness Rachel, who was not even this patient's nurse and had her own assignment to care for, gather the proper 'curly girl' hair supplies and take time to wash her hair and her body - jamming out to Taylor Swift and calling her "Queen" to make her smile. Her parents, who didn't speak English, were not there to write Rachel a DAISY Nomination - but I'm sure they would have if they had seen the way their daughter glowed after spending time with Rachel.
A young boy who was admitted after being abused by his family for about a decade with trauma and distrust for us all bonded with Rachel immediately. She made sure to provide him with exactly what he needed, wanted, and cared for him in a way he's probably never been cared for before. She met him with compassion and understanding, speaking softly to him but advocating for him fiercely on the other side of his door. When he wasn't eating due to years of malnourishment and neglect, she learned he loved ice cream but that he thought it would be better if it had sprinkles. Rachel showed up the next shift with a large container of sprinkles for all the nursing staff to add to his ice cream and got creative, thinking maybe he would eat pancakes or an actual meal if it had sprinkles on it, too.
A boy who has been readmitted over and over again, getting more and more discouraged with each complication he's faced, was waiting for a surgical plan so he could get home to attend his summer basketball camp. Over several weeks, Rachel flawlessly translated everything from every specialty team involved (neurosurgery, pediatrics, cardiovascular, general surgery, ID, etc.) so the family could keep it all straight - reminding them who was who and making sure she was present for every conversation she could be in order to ensure the various medical teams were not contradicting each other and confusing the family/patient more. She sat down and explained things to the patient in words he understood, partnering with Child Life and making sure he was able to play games and find joy while being "stuck" here waiting for a plan. At one point, there was a disagreement about whether he needed a new PIV prior to imaging, and even the evening nurse and charge nurse were confused by the plan. When Rachel came on the next morning, she ensured every medical team was on the same page again and coordinated the IV start. Because he had seen and heard Rachel advocate for him over the last several weeks so many times, once the IV was placed, he said something along the lines of: "thank goodness you got that - Rachel was going to be upset otherwise".
Rachel perfectly portrays patient advocacy and exceeds the expectations for quality patient care with every patient she encounters - but more importantly - she truly shines when taking care of the families who will never thank her and for the patients who don't have anyone else looking out for them. She has a constant focus on providing the highest standard of care for the patients she serves, and she is never too busy for anyone around her - patients and coworkers alike. If I was in the hospital, truly, I would want Rachel to be my nurse.