Rebeca Adkins
September 2025
Rebeca
Adkins
,
RN
Critical Care Unit
McKenzie-Willamette Medical Center
Springfield
,
OR
United States

 

 

 

With the family’s permission, Rebeca created a poster board all about her dementia diagnosis and, more importantly, who this patient was before.
Rebeca went above and beyond for a complicated patient in the MCU. This patient is a young person with an unfortunate diagnosis of early-onset dementia. This dementia caused the patient to be aggressive and combative and necessitated a sitter for her prolonged stay. It was emotionally and physically taxing for many of our staff. Rebeca rose above her own emotions and instead became curious about this patient. She spoke with the patient’s family and discovered that the person she was prior to this diagnosis was in every way like you and me. Dedicated to her family, funny, pleasant, and capable. With the family’s permission, Rebeca created a poster board all about her dementia diagnosis and, more importantly, who this patient was before. She included pictures of family and kind words. Rebeca did all this in her free time. She brought the poster back to the patient’s room and posted it to help other caregivers have the opportunity to connect with the patient and family. This level of care is the definition of going above and beyond. This is the level of care that our community hospital is known for providing, and Rebeca is an example of a great nurse.