Danielle Jenkins
August 2018
Danielle
Jenkins
,
RN
Med/Surg
Carilion Clinic Roanoke Campus
Roanoke
,
VA
United States
I will start out by saying that I am not a good writer: Here is my story about a DAISY Award Nominee. I started having severe, sudden epigastric pain that radiated into my upper back one night. I made it through the night and went to the LewisGale FSED in the morning (I am employed with LGMC). A CT scan was ordered and I was diagnosed with celiac artery vasculitis. I was transferred to Carilion that afternoon (because LewisGale doesn't have a Rheumatologist physician on staff). The pain became so intense that day and into the next morning that it felt as if my insides were exploding. I expressed my concerns that the pain medicine that I was receiving was not working. I found myself asking for that medicine as soon as it was time to be given again (still expressing that it provided me with minimal to no relief).
Very early in the morning, the staff came by to check my vital signs. My pain was so severe that I took my IV pole and started walking up and down the hallway to try to relieve my stomach and back pain (with nurse's permission). Upon arriving back to my room, I sat in the recliner chair, thinking, that sitting upright and not lying in the bed would help. Tears began to roll down my face as I couldn't bear this pain any longer. I called for my nurse, I was not due for more pain medication until another hour or so. Danielle came into my room; I was crying and I told her that my pain was unbearable and that I couldn't take this pain any longer. She said okay and she would be back. I'm not sure what she did at that point, but, the next person I see coming through the door is a vascular physician. He examines me, tells me that he reviewed the CT scan and they will be taking me for an angiogram and will take care of me. I felt a sigh of relief at that moment that someone believed me, listened to my cry for help, and took the initiative to call someone. That someone was Danielle, RN on 5 West. Because of her knowledge, compassion, training, and professionalism, I received the angiogram about one hour later and diagnosed with an aneurysm/dissection and possible vasculitis of the superior mesenteric artery. Danielle deserves the DAISY Award because, without her listening to her patient and getting the ball rolling, I could be in worse shape at this moment.
I consider myself as a healthy individual that has never been hospitalized other than a scheduled surgery. At that point of Danielle's intervention, I had been in pain for 31 hours. Because of her initiative taken, she brought attention to the surgeons and they expedited my care. For two days, and even into the evening hours, Physicians came to my care. Internal Medicine, Vascular, Rheumatologist, Gastrointestinal and Pain Management. My pain became managed, I received a narcotic that took my pain down to a zero, and I realized my pain was subsiding and I didn't have a need for pain medicine.
I just want to thank your entire staff on 5 West, for their wonderful care. Everyone did fantastic jobs. Physicians were awesome. But, the "speed" of my diagnosis, tests, treatment plans, and discharge date, was solely because Danielle just "listened" and made an early morning phone call. Thank you, Danielle, you are a great Registered Nurse!!!
Very early in the morning, the staff came by to check my vital signs. My pain was so severe that I took my IV pole and started walking up and down the hallway to try to relieve my stomach and back pain (with nurse's permission). Upon arriving back to my room, I sat in the recliner chair, thinking, that sitting upright and not lying in the bed would help. Tears began to roll down my face as I couldn't bear this pain any longer. I called for my nurse, I was not due for more pain medication until another hour or so. Danielle came into my room; I was crying and I told her that my pain was unbearable and that I couldn't take this pain any longer. She said okay and she would be back. I'm not sure what she did at that point, but, the next person I see coming through the door is a vascular physician. He examines me, tells me that he reviewed the CT scan and they will be taking me for an angiogram and will take care of me. I felt a sigh of relief at that moment that someone believed me, listened to my cry for help, and took the initiative to call someone. That someone was Danielle, RN on 5 West. Because of her knowledge, compassion, training, and professionalism, I received the angiogram about one hour later and diagnosed with an aneurysm/dissection and possible vasculitis of the superior mesenteric artery. Danielle deserves the DAISY Award because, without her listening to her patient and getting the ball rolling, I could be in worse shape at this moment.
I consider myself as a healthy individual that has never been hospitalized other than a scheduled surgery. At that point of Danielle's intervention, I had been in pain for 31 hours. Because of her initiative taken, she brought attention to the surgeons and they expedited my care. For two days, and even into the evening hours, Physicians came to my care. Internal Medicine, Vascular, Rheumatologist, Gastrointestinal and Pain Management. My pain became managed, I received a narcotic that took my pain down to a zero, and I realized my pain was subsiding and I didn't have a need for pain medicine.
I just want to thank your entire staff on 5 West, for their wonderful care. Everyone did fantastic jobs. Physicians were awesome. But, the "speed" of my diagnosis, tests, treatment plans, and discharge date, was solely because Danielle just "listened" and made an early morning phone call. Thank you, Danielle, you are a great Registered Nurse!!!