I have seen Shannon define what a nurse truly is many times while I have had the privilege of working with her. One patient and situation stands out in my mind. We cared for a patient on our unit who had been in the hospital for months. He had many surgeries and complications, however, we had the privilege of watching him heal and improve daily. The day finally came for him to move on to his next phase of care at another facility, a facility that was nine hours away!
Shannon coordinated this patient's transition from our hospital to the next, from ensuring his entire medical record was copied, printed, and packed. She asked the cafeteria to pack sack lunches for this patient so that he would have something to eat on his ride and coordinated a monetary donation for any other expenses the patient may have had on his journey. She drove to his doctor's office to pick up a prescription, took it to the pharmacy, and had it filled to be sure that the patient was comfortable on his ride.
She saw the patient's needs and stepped up to the plate and made it happen. This is just one example of how Shannon truly shines as a nurse. I am honored to be able to call her my co-worker and friend!