May 2024
Paul C
Fuller
,
RN
Community Based Outpatient Clinic ~ Wenatchee
Mann-Grandstaff VA Medical Center
Spokane
,
WA
United States
He remembered this patient’s unique needs and stepped up to meet them even in the face of chaos at our facility. Paul chose the best medical interest of the patient, rather than the easy way.
I am nominating Paul Fuller for The DAISY Award in nursing. Paul is a resource nurse at the Wenatchee CBOC. He is beyond a doubt one of the best nurses I have had the privilege to work with. He consistently delivers high quality, efficient patient care. He always advocates for the best interest of the patient and understands the value of communication with team members. As a busy provider, I am particularly impressed by his ability to make my work life flow much easier, his willingness to assist with any task that arises (even IT!), and his endless bright humor. Our clinic is a better place because he is here. I want to call attention to a particular patient encounter that occurred. The Wenatchee Community Based Outpatient Clinic (CBOC) had been closed all week due to a pipe rupture that caused extensive damage to the facility. Most staff were working remotely at this time. Some staff chose to work out of the building, but the facility was closed to all face-to-face patient care. Unfortunately, in the chaos of trying to reschedule visits and meet the virtual needs of our patients, one of our most vulnerable Behavioral Health Services (BHS) patients, who depends on the CBOC to give his weekly long-acting antipsychotic injection, was lost in the shuffle. He missed his injection by a day. Paul, realizing that being even a day late on this medication would result in decompensated paranoid schizophrenia and auditory hallucinations, was worried about the patient. He tried to plan with the BHS provider for urgent outpatient administration through Care in the Community(CITC), but there was no feasible way to coordinate the injection. Having worked in an ED, Paul realized this type of injection could not be given in the ED. With no other available options, he advocated to open the building for a brief time to meet the needs of the patient. He involved the whole team in the decision-making process and worked through exhausting other options before deciding to drive from home to see the patient personally. Of course, this was approved by the clinical director and administrative officers prior to opening the building because it was clearly the right thing to do. Paul had the foresight to anticipate this patient’s decompensated mental health and took action to avert a crisis. He remembered this patient’s unique needs and stepped up to meet them even in the face of chaos at our facility. Paul chose the best medical interest of the patient, rather than the easy way. Our patient has Paul to thank for making his life so much better. Paul is a true role model and I sincerely hope he receives this award! He’s earned it! Thank you,