Where's the Sword Waldo
Once upon a time, Mrs. McGillacutty was admitted to EMMC thru the Day Surgery Unit for a procedure. While getting ready for surgery, as is our practice, her belonging were sent to housekeeping for safekeeping. Technology being what it is, the belongings were logged in, and noted among her belongings was a cane with a dragon’s head handle that she had said was a gift from her son.
Mrs. M recovered from her surgery on Grant 5 Ortho Unit. She was later transferred to the PO3/K3/H3 Acute Rehab Unit. Despite of our delivery of Caring Behaviors during her stay, Mrs. M was understandably upset when, upon discharge, she discovered her dragon-headed cane was missing from her belongings! It turns out this was not a run-of-the-mill cane. It was a cane with a 24” sword hidden inside. We hadn’t lost someone’s fancy walking stick; we had lost this woman’s collectible weapon!
Mrs. M said “That cane is very valuable to me! My son gave it to me! It’s one of a kind!”
Department head nurse, Paula Ballesteros, sleuth extraordinaire and alias James Bond of PO3 where motto is “Leave no stone unturned,” hunted high and low for this cane! Thank goodness she hunted low, because that’s where it turned up. One week later, Paula located the capricious cane/sword in the medication room on PO3! The cane was returned to Mrs. M at which her mood lightened considerably. She said, “Thank you so much, you’ve made me so happy!”
But, the rest of the story… Paula B. saw in the BDN following the return of the multitasking cane to its owner… “Man with Sword arrested in Brewer!”
The Moral of the Story:
- Send a valuables home with family.
- Leave no stone unturned.
- Service recovery is a must, or is it?
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