For whatever personal reason we might have, we all became a nurse with the intent to make the world a better place one patient at a time. Julie Remedios, an ICU nurse, makes sure that she embodies what it means to be a nurse. She has always been passionate as a nurse but these two acts of kindness only cemented Julie's call for nursing.
Voice for the Voiceless
Julie had a young patient that recently went through a CVICU post-cardiac procedure and was discharged the next day. She was able to get to know the patient and take care of him both mentally and physically. His safety and comfort level was her priority. She checked up on him frequently and anticipated his needs. On the next day, when she was working on another unit, she even stopped by to check on him. It is fairly obvious that nursing is not just a job for her, that it is her calling and she truly enjoys it. Any patient that would have Julie as a nurse would be very fortunate.
Another instance where Julie proved her worth was when she was taking care of a baby. She noticed that the baby kept on screaming every time she touched her left leg or changed her diaper. Julie immediately notified the resident physician to come and do a focused assessment because the baby would not straighten her leg. Julie could not move it without the baby being in pain. The physician extender assessed but did not express the same concerns as Julie. She then asked for a second opinion by consulting with the attending physician and they decided to order a PT consult.
An x-ray was ordered. Unfortunately, the x-ray was only available until the next day where a different extender has been assigned. Julie then expressed her concern to this new resident who immediately ordered a hip ultrasound, CBC, and CRP. The CBC and CRP were outside the normal range, so the extender had to order blood cultures and antibiotics.
Julie spent a good part of her day trying to convince a radiology team member to have the hip US done. However, the radiology team member performing the US felt that the baby did not meet the age criteria for a hip US and it was above their standard protocol to do such procedure. The radiology team member informed Julie that non-protocol testing could only be done with the approval of the radiologist. Julie relayed all this new information to the resident, who called the radiologist to have the hip US done.
The day after, the patient was cared by a different nurse who took the infant to MRI for her hip and leg. An extender reported that they think the baby might have some vegetation in her heart as per the ECHO (it was done to check a murmur) and that the baby would need another rule out of thrombus. The baby was then scheduled for a surgery to have a pocket of fluid drained from her hip and came back to the unit intubated.
For those 2 days, Julie became the baby's advocate and ally for proper care and treatment, which can often be a daunting task. She was caring and compassionate, and above else, persistent. She spoke to anyone who would listen until she got what she needed for her patients. Her care and compassion for the most vulnerable of patients
Her care and compassion for the most vulnerable of patients were truly extraordinary. She sets an example for all nurses to go above and beyond, to do whatever it takes to give a voice to the voiceless, ensuring our care is compassionate and of the highest quality. She represents all the wonderful qualities a Filipino nurse is supposed to embody. She definitely is very deserving of the award.
--------------------------------------------
Follow us on Facebook
www.thefilipinonurse.net
The filipinonurse.net is always on the lookout for interesting stories about Filipino Nurses worldwide. If you know of a Filipino nurse who should be featured here, please feel free to send us a message via our Facebook Page.
0 Comments