Ann M Lade
October 2024
Ann M
Lade
,
BSN, RN, CWON
Wound / Ostomy Nursing Service
Barnes-Jewish Hospital - BJC Healthcare
St Louis
,
MO
United States

 

 

 

Ann has continued to provide compassionate and thoughtful care even though the patient has not always been cooperative and supportive, and it is because of that care, the patient has shown continued improvement and healing.
If anyone has shown exemplary nursing care to a very difficult patient, it is Ann Lade. She has been following a patient since August for a large abdominal wound with a fistula and an ileostomy. 

Managing the abdominal wound with a fistula was a challenge to contain and attempt to quantify the drainage. She would see the patient pretty much daily to assess how the patient was doing and assess if her treatment measures were working, whether that was pouching the area with a wound manager or attempting to manage with a wound VAC. She was in frequent communication with the attending physician regarding the patient’s care. 

The patient could be very difficult at times, very demanding with what she would allow done or not done to manage her wounds and ostomy. She required a lot of pain management, and Ann always made sure she was premedicated when needed. 

Ann showed an extreme amount of patience, understanding, and empathy every time she saw her. The patient could be very demanding and had, on numerous occasions, requested a change of bedside nursing care for her that day. She had “fired” many of the floor nurses. However, Ann stuck in there even through the worst of times. She was able to build a trusting relationship with the patient and family. Her ability to continue to treat the patient with a kind and caring attitude is what nursing is all about. 

A huge nod to you, Ann! You did a great job! 

***

Ann has been a tremendous help to an extremely complicated patient who has been in the hospital for over two months and battles with delirium and agitation, making her care even more complex and difficult. Despite that, Ann had been diligent in focusing on being patient and providing effective wound care and ostomy care despite times of belligerence from the patient. Ann has continued to provide compassionate and thoughtful care even though the patient has not always been cooperative and supportive, and it is because of that care, the patient has shown continued improvement and healing. Ann has focused on excellence and goal-directed patient care regardless of the barriers presented. Her selflessness has been crucial in the success of the patient’s care. She deserves kudos for her care in the face of adversity and her focus on BJC values.