Empowering Nurses at the Bedside and in Business

Jimmy Kimmel and National Nurses’ Week, Part 1

I am not one to jump on the bandwagon when something pops up in the news.  However, the recent Jimmy Kimmel matter does deserve some attention.

After Kimmel’s wife gave birth to their son at Cedar Sinai Hospital in Los Angeles, an astute nurse noticed the infant had a heart murmur.  Heart murmurs in babies can be normal but the nurse also noticed his skin had a bluish tone.

The nurse rushed Kimmel’s son to the NICU and it was then learned that the baby had tetralogy of Fallot.  He was transferred to Children’s Hospital of Los Angeles for open heart surgery.  Kimmel openly shared the experience and thanked all the nurses, by name, who participated in his son’s care.  He discussed also the emotional ordeal of what he and his family went through as healthcare providers worked hard to save his son’s life.

Click here to see Jimmy Kimmel’s video.

Nurses need to be able to have the time to care for their patients and notice the changes in their patient’s condition.  If the nurse caring for Kimmel’s baby had too many patients, would she have been able to detect the change in skin color?  Would she have been able to get the help he needed immediately?  Nurses need to be able to practice the art of nursing and be given the time to care for each and every patient.  Luckily, this nurse did and she deserves all the praise she has been given.

Kimmel was able to go on national television, share his story and thank all of the nurses and doctors, by name, that were involved with saving his son’s life.  His Youtube video has, in 2 days, reached over 9 million views.  While most patients and their families don’t have the reach that Kimmel does, how many would love to be able praise the care and treatment you provide?  More than you could imagine!

While Kimmel brings up many issues currently in healthcare, that will wait for a later time.  Now is the time to celebrate nurses!

As we enter into National Nurses’ Week, I would like to thank each of you nurses who work hard to care and comfort your patients and their families!

HAPPY NURSES’ WEEK !!!!!

 

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