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March 28, 2024

Using Critical Thinking to Quickly Assess a Member’s Needs

August 23, 2018

Maya Cooks, a CHOICE Nurse Care Coordinator based in VNSNY’s Brooklyn office, has spent over 13 years helping VNSNY CHOICE members. Before joining VNSNY, she worked as an oncology nurse and a med-surg nurse. All of her experience and judgment comes into play when she treats members. 

In every situation, Maya says she applies “critical thinking” to quickly assess and meet people’s needs.  “To be good at what I do, I need to be efficient and creative time-wise and use all of the support systems and resources that VNSNY has available.”

Maya continues, “With elderly members who can’t retain much information, I always have the member and family in a three-way conversation to explain their options.”  She also believes that it’s important for the member to feel they are part of the decision process. Maya gives members and their families a number of options. Maya then continues to follow up frequently to make sure that the decision is a successful one for the member.

“With this profession, you have to care about people and want to help them,” says Maya. “They can sense that when you talk to them.” She believes that nursing care is all about building trust—it empowers members and supports their healing.  “If you want your plan of care to work, show the member that their health and well-being is important to you, and that they can trust you’ll be there for them.”