Shan Edney Harrison's clinical skill and especially her compassionate care exemplify the kind of nurse that our patients, their families, and our staff recognize as an outstanding role model.
Shan is such a positive person and one of the most caring nurses I have ever met. As a person with a chronic illness I spent quite a bit of time in hospitals and doctors' offices which means I also spend a large amount of time with nurses and doctors. On countless occasions Shan has gone above and beyond what was required of her and although I could write a book on all the amazing things she has done for my husband and me with both physical and emotional support, one occasion stands out the most.
With my condition, dehydration is a big concern. I used to have a standing order to come in for IV fluids as needed up to twice a week until my doctor left the Army and I was assigned a new one. While the doctor was very kind, he did not renew the order which left me with only one choice, go to the ER. I called the GI office and spoke with Shan who was already familiar with my case, she told me not to worry and that she would make sure I could come in. Not only did she advocate for me which resulted in permission to come in for care, but she also supported me once I came in and gave me a phone number to the nurse's station to call for any problems in the future. Shan went above her normal job duties and risked getting in trouble for asking the doctor for something I had already been denied, but she did so much more than just take care of my physical symptoms. She fought for me and made me feel like I was worth the time and energy required to help me feel better and stay out of the ER, she encouraged me, checked in with me to make sure it helped; and she supported me. Shan took on the extra work of getting things approved, hooking me up to the fluids, and monitoring me while she still had other patients to care for. This may seem like a small thing, but avoiding an ER trip and being made to feel heard, supported, and important is such an amazing thing for someone like me. I have been cared for by hundreds of nurses and never once did I meet someone who not only focused on physical healing, but emotional as well.