Three registered nurses from 5 Medical received a Who’s Your Angel nomination from patient Audra Allensworth. The Blessing Foundation presented the Who’s Your Angel awards on April 12.
Audra shared words about each recipient, she stated, “Roxie was there when I got admitted to the 5th floor. I was terrified, sick with an autonomic dysreflexia (AD) attack with blood pressure out of control. She hit the ground running and got on board with me because I could not explain what was going on. She immediately figured out it was AD. Terrified of losing my life that night, Roxie made sure to keep her promise that for the next four nights she would be my nurse. She was there through it all and I am thankful for her!”
“It had been a very bad week and another angel from 5 North saved my life, when again it was another night of life-threatening attacks because of issues I have because I am a quadriplegic of C-4 and C-5. Sarah was there doing all of the medical needs to lower my blood pressure as I waited for everything to level out. Sarah held my hand and sat with me while I went through weathering my storm!”
“Sabrina was there with me for four days of complete hell with everything that was wrong with me. She was there through one of the worst AD attacks that I can barely remember. My blood pressure was 172/114 and my heart was racing. The pain made me scream so loud that I kept asking for Sabrina to forgive me for waking the other patients. She acted fast, made calls and took charge so that I would remain under her care. I would have ended up in ICU if it wasn’t for her and Roxie! Being the sickest I’ve been in a few years, there has been at least three times in six days that I came close to becoming an angel above. Sabrina saved my life because of her knowledge of what my medical issues are. Every incident Sabrina was there. Blessing is so blessed to have this angel of 5 North. As I sit in my hospital bed I know that I am not out of the woods yet but I take comfort that Sabrina will fly her angel wings and no matter what, she will be there!”
The “Who’s Your Angel” program is an opportunity for patients and their families to express their appreciation to anyone in the Health System who had a positive influence in their healthcare experience. When the donor makes a financial gift of any size in the name of the employee and writes up a story sharing the experience, the Foundation deposits the gift to the patient care area or restricted fund that most closely matches the employee(s) being honored or the reason for the patient’s time with the Health System. This donations were deposited to the Nurse Education Fund. One hundred percent of Foundation gifts are designated to caring for patients in need.
Any staff member can be nominated for a Who’s Your Angel award, and nomination forms can be found in over 35 different departments within the Health System, from Palmyra to Hannibal, Pittsfield, to Golden and more! For more information regarding the “Who’s Your Angel” program, or giving of any kind to Blessing Health System, contact The Blessing Foundation at 217-223-8400, Ext. 4800, or go online to blessinghealth.org/angel.
Pictured L to R: Sarah Morgan, RN, 5 Medical; Roxie Kruse, RN, 5 Medical; Sabrina Jones, RN, 5 Medical