Mayra Lira
March 2025
Mayra
Lira
,
LVN
Forensic Treatment Program (FTP)
North Texas State Hospital
Vernon
,
TX
United States
If we are short-staffed, Mayra and Lanita offer to cover shifts to ensure our staff gets their breaks.
We had a patient whose feet were in very poor health. He was scheduled to go to our foot clinic here on campus. Each time his appointment was set, the patient refused to go. His toenails continued to grow, and his feet became increasingly scaly. Despite all efforts, this patient did not want to attend the foot clinic. On this particular day, I arrived at work and found Lanita and Mayra in our treatment room. They had emery boards, nail clippers, lotion, and towels. I asked what they were doing. These two wonderful LVNs explained that because this patient had refused to go to the foot clinic, they gathered what they could to conduct a "foot clinic" here on the unit. The patient agreed to let them work on his feet. Because these two LVNs had a great rapport with him, the patient felt comfortable and trusted them. It took them an hour and a half to complete his foot care. They clipped his toenails, soaked his feet, and used a pumice stone to exfoliate them. When they finished, the patient smiled and thanked them. He was so happy! This patient was known to walk for hours throughout the day. He struggled with communication so he did not often talk to people. We would frequently look for "body" clues to determine if he was having a bad day, so the fact that he allowed the LVNs to work on his feet was amazing! His big smile indicated he was absolutely content. It brought me to tears to see him happy.
Mayra and Lanita took the time, as they do with many of our patients, to ensure his foot treatment was thorough. We have had patients admitted to our hospital with a head full of lice. I have witnessed Mayra and Lanita gown up from head to toe to assist a patient with permethrin lotion/shampoo in the restroom. They don't just stop there; they follow through! They gown up again and return to comb through the patient's hair, removing dead and live lice! All the while, they talk to the patient, sing, or do things to ensure the patient is comfortable and feels unjudged. No patient's concerns go unheard or "tabled" for another day. If our patients have concerns, Mayra and Lanita write them down and address them later. If they do not have time to address the concern immediately, they always tell the patients they will get to them ASAP. I have been at work many evenings and have seen both Lanita and Mayra stay past their shifts to ensure all patients' concerns are addressed. Leaving work is not their priority; our patients' care is their priority. They are the best team to work with! Not only do they help our patients, but they also support our PNAs. If we are short-staffed, Mayra and Lanita offer to cover shifts to ensure our staff gets their breaks. Even if they miss their breaks to help staff, they never complain. Lanita and Mayra tell me, "Our staff is out on the floor with our patients for eight, sometimes twelve hours, and they need those breaks." They are thoughtful of others. I feel beyond privileged to work alongside these two amazing nurses.