Star Edington
April 2020
Star
Edington
,
MSN, RN
4C medical
Arkansas Children's Hospital
She treated my child like her own and never became clinical or distant as she went about her work. Most importantly, she saw beyond data and learned the patient.
The first words I said to Star were, "I need help!" My ten-year-old was screaming in pain as he sat on the toilet vomiting and begging for help. Apparently, I pushed the call button and said "I need someone in here" almost immediately after shift change. With Covid-19, and the hospital understandably taking all precautions, I could only see eyes above a mask. As I squatted in the bathroom and began to rattle off information about my son and all his recent symptoms over the past two days, I saw care and compassion in Star's eyes. I knew she was there to listen and to help.
As Star listened, she flew into action. She immediately called on her device and quickly had back up in the room with her. I could tell she believed me when I said, " I don't know what this is but I don't believe it is constipation or even mesenteric adenitis." Our physician had already been by our room on rounds and didn't realize her pager was not working. Therefore, Star was unable to get in touch with her. The head nurse on the floor, J, (who has her own individual pedestal in my book), also made many appearances in our room from that point forward and believed me when I said this kid has never responded to pain in any way even close to this. He is unusually tough. He was here a few weeks ago to get this fifth set of stitches or staples in his life (nine this last time) and he considered it no big deal.
I got my son in bed and tying a vomit bag when he raised up and projectile vomited toward the bathroom. He said, "I'm sorry...I'm so sorry." Star immediately began reassuring him and started helping clean him and the floor and this mom marveled in her head, "what nurse about to graduate as an APN does this?" I'm not sure how she made it happen but she got him morphine quickly to ease his suffering. When my son's fever hit 104.0 she went above and beyond and put ice bags in pillowcases and placed five of them around his body. She treated my child like her own and never became clinical or distant as she went about her work. Most importantly, she saw beyond data and learned the patient.
Star took information when I said things such as, "my brother presented the same way when his appendix nearly ruptured. His pain was localized in the center and didn't move to the right until immediately before his surgery, which occurred on his 3rd trip to the hospital." She tirelessly worked to solve the puzzle and I feel as if she was probably pushing behind the scenes to get the CT ordered. She was instrumental in possibly saving my son's life. In a never-ending tsunami of patients, Star will probably forget the ruptured appendix in our room. I want her to know that we will never forget her. She has left a permanent, positive imprint on our hearts and we are forever grateful.
As Star listened, she flew into action. She immediately called on her device and quickly had back up in the room with her. I could tell she believed me when I said, " I don't know what this is but I don't believe it is constipation or even mesenteric adenitis." Our physician had already been by our room on rounds and didn't realize her pager was not working. Therefore, Star was unable to get in touch with her. The head nurse on the floor, J, (who has her own individual pedestal in my book), also made many appearances in our room from that point forward and believed me when I said this kid has never responded to pain in any way even close to this. He is unusually tough. He was here a few weeks ago to get this fifth set of stitches or staples in his life (nine this last time) and he considered it no big deal.
I got my son in bed and tying a vomit bag when he raised up and projectile vomited toward the bathroom. He said, "I'm sorry...I'm so sorry." Star immediately began reassuring him and started helping clean him and the floor and this mom marveled in her head, "what nurse about to graduate as an APN does this?" I'm not sure how she made it happen but she got him morphine quickly to ease his suffering. When my son's fever hit 104.0 she went above and beyond and put ice bags in pillowcases and placed five of them around his body. She treated my child like her own and never became clinical or distant as she went about her work. Most importantly, she saw beyond data and learned the patient.
Star took information when I said things such as, "my brother presented the same way when his appendix nearly ruptured. His pain was localized in the center and didn't move to the right until immediately before his surgery, which occurred on his 3rd trip to the hospital." She tirelessly worked to solve the puzzle and I feel as if she was probably pushing behind the scenes to get the CT ordered. She was instrumental in possibly saving my son's life. In a never-ending tsunami of patients, Star will probably forget the ruptured appendix in our room. I want her to know that we will never forget her. She has left a permanent, positive imprint on our hearts and we are forever grateful.