Jackie Benson
November 2018
Jacqueline Anne
Benson
,
BSN, RN, PCCN
Photopheresis
Morristown Medical Center
Morristown
,
NJ
United States
Jackie Benson, an 18-year MMC "veteran" in the ED and Rapid Treatment Units, joined our very specialized treatment center only two short years ago. I could share with you the countless ways in which Jackie has raised the bar with regard to patient quality care, but there is one particular patient who Jackie advocated for, and that impact made all the difference for a positive outcome.
Last year, we were challenged by one patient's vascular access. This young patient has a rare lymphoma and needed ongoing photopheresis treatments two days monthly. Unfortunately, as a team, we were only successful gaining peripheral access 50% of the time. More often than not, this required multiple sticks with 17 gauge steel needles. The discomfort and anticipated anxiety proved too much for the patient; not to mention our nursing staff. Jackie advocated for a port placement and convinced her team this was the right approach. She quickly jumped in and started doing the research only to find that currently, there was no vascular access device on the market recommended for use with our photopheresis treatment system. Time was of the essence as the patient's symptoms were flaring. Jackie collaborated with her nursing team, senior leadership, clinical experts, vascular surgeons, Nursing Education and Risk Management to name a few. A compatible port was finally selected and placed earlier this year. Under the direct supervision of the Angiodynamic Medical Science Liaison, Jackie accessed the newest high-flow port and our patient had their first successful treatment. To date, our patient has had 100% treatment success!
Through Jackie's leadership, ethical and professional responsibility we improved patient outcomes. Jackie Benson submitted our story which was so beautifully written I might add, to the 2018 Magnet Component Awards sponsored by The Women's Association for Morristown Medical Center, and I am proud to say Jackie's story was recognized as a winner under the category of Structural Empowerment where strong professional practice flourishes and where the mission, vision, and values come to life to achieve the outcomes believed to be important.
Last year, we were challenged by one patient's vascular access. This young patient has a rare lymphoma and needed ongoing photopheresis treatments two days monthly. Unfortunately, as a team, we were only successful gaining peripheral access 50% of the time. More often than not, this required multiple sticks with 17 gauge steel needles. The discomfort and anticipated anxiety proved too much for the patient; not to mention our nursing staff. Jackie advocated for a port placement and convinced her team this was the right approach. She quickly jumped in and started doing the research only to find that currently, there was no vascular access device on the market recommended for use with our photopheresis treatment system. Time was of the essence as the patient's symptoms were flaring. Jackie collaborated with her nursing team, senior leadership, clinical experts, vascular surgeons, Nursing Education and Risk Management to name a few. A compatible port was finally selected and placed earlier this year. Under the direct supervision of the Angiodynamic Medical Science Liaison, Jackie accessed the newest high-flow port and our patient had their first successful treatment. To date, our patient has had 100% treatment success!
Through Jackie's leadership, ethical and professional responsibility we improved patient outcomes. Jackie Benson submitted our story which was so beautifully written I might add, to the 2018 Magnet Component Awards sponsored by The Women's Association for Morristown Medical Center, and I am proud to say Jackie's story was recognized as a winner under the category of Structural Empowerment where strong professional practice flourishes and where the mission, vision, and values come to life to achieve the outcomes believed to be important.