Williamson Medical Center recently recognized three nursing students from Columbia State Community College’s Williamson County Campus for exemplifying the hospital’s standards of excellence in patient care.
While making their rounds on the sixth floor, nursing students Christina Brown of Nashville, Gladys Kirkpatrick of Franklin and Brianna Sterling of Nashville kept a particularly close eye on a patient who had a history of seizures. When needed, they all kept their composure and got help immediately. The three are only in their second semester of nursing school.
Lisa Zeitlin, R.N., who was passing by, stopped to notify the Rapid Response Team. The students continued to assist WMC’s staff in stabilizing the patient and even remained by his side while transporting him to the Intensive Care Unit. When the patient woke up, Brown, Kirkpatrick and Sterling were there to explain what happened. “I’ve never been the first person to assess the situation,” Kirkpatrick explained. “That was a huge experience for me because I’ve always looked to somebody else to take the lead.”
Zeitlin commended the three students to the Director of Nursing at Columbia State saying, “I was so appreciative of and impressed by what they did and the amount of help they gave us. It’s such a great confidence boost for any of us, especially students, to receive recognition. We’re all so busy with what we’re doing that we sometimes overlook the good jobs that folks do, and I think we need to be mindful of that and report the good moments like we would report others things.”
WMC’s Administrative Team and Education and Development Team formally recognized each student’s efforts with a “Caught in the Act of Caring” honor—a first for a nursing student. “Caught in the Act of Caring” is an internal honor given to employees by their peers for exhibiting WMC’s Standards of Performance, such as commitment to co-workers, patient relations and service, safety and environment, and attitude. “Our nursing students do such wonderful things for our staff and patients,” said Ashley Perkins, R.N., associate chief nursing officer. “They deserve recognition for their exceptional patient care and customer service.”
You can find out more about the Columbia State nursing program by contacting Barbara Blum by phone (931) 540-2609 or email [email protected] and visit the school online at www.columbiastate.edu/nursing.
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