Sandra Onwemadu is a Patient Care Technician in the Neurology Clinic.
Please join the Center for Nursing Excellence in congratulating Sandra Onwemadu – for being selected as the August BEE Award winner!
Sandra Onwemadu is a Patient Care Technician in the Neurology Clinic and was nominated by a co-worker. The following is the story of how Sandra impacted their lives in a way that they will never forget.
Nomination:
In May, Ms. Sandra was working in the Neurology Clinic during what appeared to be a routine day of patient care. Unbeknownst to her, she would soon demonstrate the critical value of her role as a member of the healthcare team and the profound impact attentive care can have on patient outcomes.
While completing the standard rooming process for a postoperative patient in the Neurosurgery Clinic, Ms. Sandra noticed that the patient’s oxygen saturation level was abnormally low. Rather than simply documenting the finding, she thoughtfully reassessed the patient to ensure the reading was accurate and not the result of positioning or equipment error. When the oxygen saturation remained concerning, Ms. Sandra took immediate action. She reassured the patient and promptly notified the clinic nurse so that a more comprehensive assessment could be performed.
Following the nursing evaluation, the patient was identified as potentially experiencing a pulmonary embolism. The clinic quickly escalated care and coordinated transfer to the Emergency Department for further evaluation. The patient was subsequently admitted to the hospital with a confirmed pulmonary embolism.
Ms. Sandra’s actions exemplify the UAMS CARES values of Compassion, Attention, Respect, Empathy, and Service. She demonstrated exceptional situational awareness, clinical attentiveness, and a strong understanding of the importance of communicating concerns to the healthcare team. Rather than simply completing a task, she remained fully engaged in the patient’s well-being and recognized the significance of an abnormal finding that could have easily been overlooked.
Ms. Sandra consistently embodies what it means to put patients first. Her vigilance, professionalism, and commitment to excellence contributed directly to the timely identification and treatment of a potentially life-threatening condition. For these reasons, I wholeheartedly believe Ms. Sandra is deserving of this month’s BEE Award, as she truly exemplifies what it means to Be Exceptional Every Day.
Please congratulate Sandra for Being Exceptional Every day at UAMS!
Way to go Sandra!