Candice Dickerson
May 2016
Candice
Dickerson
,
RN
Nursing Supervisor
Carolinas HealthCare System Lincoln
Lincolntown
,
NC
United States
I would like to specifically recognize Candice for an amazing act of advocacy for the patients and families in our facility. Candice not only acts as a staff nurse within our CCU but she also functions in the role of Nursing Supervisor, an underappreciated and under-recognized position.
Candice was in Nursing Supervision and the CCU had a 21 year old patient who had just been admitted to the CCU status post sinus surgery for a sinus abscess. This patient came to the CCU along with his family without complication and the plan was to maintain in the CCU overnight to monitor for swelling and vision loss. During the shift the patient had a sudden acute vision loss, entirely losing his vision to his right eye and marked swelling to his face. This warranted a transfer to an outlying facility that had a subspecialty ophthalmologist and ENT physician. Here is where the tedious and behind the scene work of the Nursing Supervisor comes in to play.
During this time the entire system was in RED for bed availability and even more so for a facility that had the subspecialty physician resources that this patient desperately needed. When Candice was notified about this patient's need to transfer, the physician and nurse had already spent a number of hours trying to find a bed within and outside of the system. The patient was finally accepted to an outside facility, however, there was not a bed available and the patient again had to wait.
Candice stepped in and was called to the bedside to speak with the mother of the patient who was frantic and very upset, feeling as though we were not pushing hard enough to get her child the care he needed, and hopefully preventing him from losing all vision. Candice spoke with the mother and calmed her down. Candice advised the nurses on the CCU to call the physician in so that he could speak with the mother and explain what the wait was for. During this time Candice went above and beyond and took the time to call the accepting facility and speak with their Nursing Supervisor. Candice explained the situation and really didn't get anywhere with the Nursing Supervisor. Candice didn't stop there, she asked to speak with the Administrator on call at the receiving facility and again continued to advocate for the patient, explaining his acute need for further care from the specialty groups. She made follow up phone calls with this facility that were not required of her but they were necessary to ensure this patient was transferred as quickly as possible.
The patient did receive a bed that night and Candice's actions assisted to expedite the process. The physician came and spoke with the family of this patient and was able to calm their fears. The advocacy, persistence, and determination that Candice showed during this time can't be left unappreciated or recognized. Her critical thinking skills potentially saved this 21 year old patient's vision. Candice was not this patient's nurse, but she was in a Nursing Supervisor role and she didn't take it lightly. She shows what CHS Lincoln nurses are all about and for that we thank her!
Candice was in Nursing Supervision and the CCU had a 21 year old patient who had just been admitted to the CCU status post sinus surgery for a sinus abscess. This patient came to the CCU along with his family without complication and the plan was to maintain in the CCU overnight to monitor for swelling and vision loss. During the shift the patient had a sudden acute vision loss, entirely losing his vision to his right eye and marked swelling to his face. This warranted a transfer to an outlying facility that had a subspecialty ophthalmologist and ENT physician. Here is where the tedious and behind the scene work of the Nursing Supervisor comes in to play.
During this time the entire system was in RED for bed availability and even more so for a facility that had the subspecialty physician resources that this patient desperately needed. When Candice was notified about this patient's need to transfer, the physician and nurse had already spent a number of hours trying to find a bed within and outside of the system. The patient was finally accepted to an outside facility, however, there was not a bed available and the patient again had to wait.
Candice stepped in and was called to the bedside to speak with the mother of the patient who was frantic and very upset, feeling as though we were not pushing hard enough to get her child the care he needed, and hopefully preventing him from losing all vision. Candice spoke with the mother and calmed her down. Candice advised the nurses on the CCU to call the physician in so that he could speak with the mother and explain what the wait was for. During this time Candice went above and beyond and took the time to call the accepting facility and speak with their Nursing Supervisor. Candice explained the situation and really didn't get anywhere with the Nursing Supervisor. Candice didn't stop there, she asked to speak with the Administrator on call at the receiving facility and again continued to advocate for the patient, explaining his acute need for further care from the specialty groups. She made follow up phone calls with this facility that were not required of her but they were necessary to ensure this patient was transferred as quickly as possible.
The patient did receive a bed that night and Candice's actions assisted to expedite the process. The physician came and spoke with the family of this patient and was able to calm their fears. The advocacy, persistence, and determination that Candice showed during this time can't be left unappreciated or recognized. Her critical thinking skills potentially saved this 21 year old patient's vision. Candice was not this patient's nurse, but she was in a Nursing Supervisor role and she didn't take it lightly. She shows what CHS Lincoln nurses are all about and for that we thank her!