Karen Schemeider, Monica Gettings
August 2017
Monica
Gettings
,
RN
Cadiothoracic ICU
UPMC Shadysdie
Pittsburgh
,
PA
United States
The patient was admitted for heart surgery. After surgery, he developed an ileus and had an extended stay in the CT-ICU. He was in the ICU for over 30 days. The patient required a tracheostomy and was on the ventilator. The morning of Valentine's Day, his night nurse Monica finished her shift and instead of going home after a long night, asked her patient if he would like her to get him a card to give his wife when she came to visit. The patient smiled and stated that he would appreciate that. Monica went to the gift shop and bought him a card and a box of chocolates to give his wife.
When Monica gave him the card and candy to give his wife, he was so touched, he had tears in hiseyes. Later that day when his wife came in to visit, she told us that she initially thought someone bought that for her husband but soon found out it was for her from the patient.
They exchanged cards and then watched Titanic together holding hands. It was on television for Valentine 's Day and seemed to be the perfect accompaniment for their visit together. As the days went on in the ICU, Monica took care of him, and when she was not at work, she would text or call in to keep up to date on his progress. The patient eventually was able to have a speaking valve placed on his tracheostomy through the ventilator. This made it possible for his wife to hear his voice and for the patient to thank Monica verbally for her wonderful care and for going above and beyond every day she was at work. He progressed to being off the ventilator and on just a trach mask and before he was discharged he was able to walk with a walker out of his ICU room to the nurses' station. We took a picture of this great accomplishment and sent it to Monica because she was off that day and he wanted her to see his progress. The patient became a very special patient to many of us but particularly Monica. Monica is a dedicated nurse and patient advocate. This is just one example of the wonderful things Monica does day in and day out.
I have worked with Monica side by side for the last 26 years and I can honestly say this is just one example of the many lives she touches every day. She exemplifies competence as well as compassion to not only her patients and their families but to her peers as well. For this and many more reasons Monica is very deserving of recognition.
When Monica gave him the card and candy to give his wife, he was so touched, he had tears in hiseyes. Later that day when his wife came in to visit, she told us that she initially thought someone bought that for her husband but soon found out it was for her from the patient.
They exchanged cards and then watched Titanic together holding hands. It was on television for Valentine 's Day and seemed to be the perfect accompaniment for their visit together. As the days went on in the ICU, Monica took care of him, and when she was not at work, she would text or call in to keep up to date on his progress. The patient eventually was able to have a speaking valve placed on his tracheostomy through the ventilator. This made it possible for his wife to hear his voice and for the patient to thank Monica verbally for her wonderful care and for going above and beyond every day she was at work. He progressed to being off the ventilator and on just a trach mask and before he was discharged he was able to walk with a walker out of his ICU room to the nurses' station. We took a picture of this great accomplishment and sent it to Monica because she was off that day and he wanted her to see his progress. The patient became a very special patient to many of us but particularly Monica. Monica is a dedicated nurse and patient advocate. This is just one example of the wonderful things Monica does day in and day out.
I have worked with Monica side by side for the last 26 years and I can honestly say this is just one example of the many lives she touches every day. She exemplifies competence as well as compassion to not only her patients and their families but to her peers as well. For this and many more reasons Monica is very deserving of recognition.