Healing Wounds with Attentive Care and Teamwork
A VNSNY nurse since 2006, Margarette Lafosse travels from the Queens home she shares with her husband to Manhattan, where she sees up to 10 patients a day. Her responsibilities run the gamut of medical-surgical treatment, from wound care to injections to catheterizations.
“You need to know your patient’s state of mind, temperament, and emotional needs,” says Margarette. “Then you can work together as a team to meet their medical needs.” She recently cared Peter (not his real name), an elderly widower with diabetes who lives by himself. Peter’s podiatrist had informed him that the wound on his toe could lead to complications, and that it needed to be cared for and monitored. That’s where Margarette came in. At her first visit, Margarette determined the sort of treatment the wound would require, and that it could take considerable time to heal. She confirmed her assessment with Peter’s podiatrist and by sending photographs to the VNSNY Wound Consultant.
She also got to know Peter in their first meeting, learning right away that he values his independence and self-sufficiency. Margarette says that he was a little apprehensive about the wound, but that what he wanted from her was not hand-holding—he wanted straightforward, professional care and continuous updates about progress. “For wound care, it’s important that the nurse, the doctor—in this case, a podiatrist—wound consultant, and the patient all work together to agree on a treatment plan and stick to it,” notes Margarette. “When I meet a patient, I tell them it’s a team effort—I need your help to meet the common goal, which in this case was to help the wound heal completely, without infection or complications, so he could get back with his normal routine.I asked Peter to give me a report on the dressing and draining of the wound between visits, as well. This approach helps make the patients feel like they are contributing to the healing process.”
Margarette also makes it a point to observe her patients closely and stay on top of things. “If a treatment isn’t working, I’ll suggest something else and let the doctor and patient know,” she says. “A big key is communication—on all sides—so everybody knows what’s going on and what to expect.” In addition, she was careful to always maintain a positive attitude. “With a slow-healing wound like Peter’s, sometimes it’s mind over matter. The nurse needs to be upbeat and optimistic, so the patient feels if they stay the course and follow instructions, they will get better.”
After three months, Peter’s team agreed that his wound was healed. Seeing Peter out and walking in his neighborhood a short while later assured Margarette that he was back to his old routine. “That made me feel great,” she said. “I try every day to make a difference in my patients’ lives.”
Peter’s comments
“Margarette’s care was compassionate, professional, understanding, efficient—and very effective,” says Peter. “It was reassuring to know that she was monitoring the healing process very carefully. She always explained what she was doing, and stressed the importance of foot care and circulation. If I had questions she couldn’t answer right away, she would look into it and get back to me with the information.” In addition, Peter notes, “Margarette was very pleasant. While she was focused on treating the wound, we also had nice conversations, talking about ourselves, and caught up from visit to visit.”
Peter adds that he has had many dealings with VNS, including the care provided for his late wife, who was in VNSNY hospice earlier this year. “I think the organization does wonderful work for people who are homebound and need medical assistance,” he says. “The nurses are always very professional and pleasant; they take their job seriously. I’m very pleased with the experience I’ve had with VNSNY. And that includes Margarette, who is upholding their high standards.”