Stephany Johnston
August 2014
Stephany
Johnston
,
RN
Emergency Center
Medical Center, Navicent Health
Macon
,
GA
United States
Stephany Johnston embodies the traits of professionalism, compassion, and excellence every day that she is working at the Medical Center of Central Georgia. She exemplifies the Medical Center of Central Georgia's nursing theorist, Kristen Swanson, and her Theory of Caring. The "being with' and "doing for" concept of this theory states that the nurse is emotionally there for other and that the nurse will assist the patient in doing things that they are unable to do for themselves.
Recently, Stephany demonstrated this caring concept when a patient with stroke like symptoms presented to the Emergency Center. The patient has right sided paralysis and was unable to speak - a candidate for TPA. Because the patient was unable to verbally communicate it was very difficult to obtain consent for treatment and there was no family readily available. This nurse figured out, that although the patient was unable to speak, he could understand her and the physicians as well as write. She discovered that the patient was terrified of TPA because his mother had been administered TPA and died of complications. Stephany used professional nursing skills to educate the patient and calm him; he consented for treatment. Arrangements were made to have the patient flown to Grady via helicopter for clot retrieval. His family, including his wife was still unavailable.
Later, the patient writes, "Stephany went above and beyond the call of duty. She held my hand in my time of need. She gave me the strength to carry on, she stayed with me until the very last minute when they wheeled me onto the helicopter." The patient was successfully treated at Grady and after his time in Central Georgia Rehabilitation, was discharged home with home health.
He raved about his Emergency Center nurse to the home health nurse; the home health nurse took the extra step of contacting her supervisor who in turn contacted individuals in the Emergency Center until the nurse was identified. Nyssa was transferred the call from this patient who told her that he wanted "everybody to know what a wonderful nurse and human being his Emergency Center nurse was to him". He requested to thank her and hug her in gratitude himself. Nyssa got the nurse on the phone without informing her of who was calling. The nurse was stunned to hear the words of appreciation from her patient when at their last contact he was unable to speak.
The above is but one example of Stephany Johnston's commitment to her patients and to the profession of nursing. She is truly an extraordinary RN who exemplifies professional excellence and compassion that extends beyond what is commonplace.
Recently, Stephany demonstrated this caring concept when a patient with stroke like symptoms presented to the Emergency Center. The patient has right sided paralysis and was unable to speak - a candidate for TPA. Because the patient was unable to verbally communicate it was very difficult to obtain consent for treatment and there was no family readily available. This nurse figured out, that although the patient was unable to speak, he could understand her and the physicians as well as write. She discovered that the patient was terrified of TPA because his mother had been administered TPA and died of complications. Stephany used professional nursing skills to educate the patient and calm him; he consented for treatment. Arrangements were made to have the patient flown to Grady via helicopter for clot retrieval. His family, including his wife was still unavailable.
Later, the patient writes, "Stephany went above and beyond the call of duty. She held my hand in my time of need. She gave me the strength to carry on, she stayed with me until the very last minute when they wheeled me onto the helicopter." The patient was successfully treated at Grady and after his time in Central Georgia Rehabilitation, was discharged home with home health.
He raved about his Emergency Center nurse to the home health nurse; the home health nurse took the extra step of contacting her supervisor who in turn contacted individuals in the Emergency Center until the nurse was identified. Nyssa was transferred the call from this patient who told her that he wanted "everybody to know what a wonderful nurse and human being his Emergency Center nurse was to him". He requested to thank her and hug her in gratitude himself. Nyssa got the nurse on the phone without informing her of who was calling. The nurse was stunned to hear the words of appreciation from her patient when at their last contact he was unable to speak.
The above is but one example of Stephany Johnston's commitment to her patients and to the profession of nursing. She is truly an extraordinary RN who exemplifies professional excellence and compassion that extends beyond what is commonplace.