May 2020
Debi
Kienstra
,
RN, BSN
East Unit
Ranken Jordan Pediatric Bridge Hospital
Maryland Heights
,
MO
United States
This RN is an Extraordinary Nurse. She maintains a calm and cool composure while hustling to provide top-notch care for her patients and complete everything on her to-do list. She teaches new nurses to be kind, thorough, and compassionate; this RN leads by example by lending a helping hand, slowing down when she needs to, and showing love to everyone at Ranken. Her years of experience make her a wonderful resource for all staff, and her chipper personality allows everyone to feel comfortable asking for help.
When I think of all the times she went above and beyond for the kids, one specific patient comes to my mind. We had a particularly complex (medical and emotional) patient who presented nursing with many challenges. Without a second thought, this RN stepped up and led the charge to show this kid love and great care. This RN cared for this patient nearly every shift that she was scheduled and built a relationship with this patient based on kindness and compassion.
While in the patient's room once, I observed the patient refusing medication and care, complain about a variety of things, and wanted everyone to leave them alone. I watched this RN approach the patient, hold their hand, and calmly discuss the patient's concerns. She listened to them, found simple solutions to many of their problems, made them laugh, and allowed the patient to feel their feelings. This RN completely changed the course of the patient's day by slowing down and taking the extra time with this patient.
On a different day, I was nearby as the patient began to get upset over a variety of things. The patient complained of her feet aching and said she couldn't take one more step. This RN stopped what she was doing, sat down, and rubbed the patient's feet. The smile that came across the patient's face was huge.
When this RN comes to work, she leaves everyone at the door and puts others first. She cares about every kid in the hospital, whether it is her assigned patient or not. She goes out of her way to make the day of everyone she sees. It's not uncommon to see her passing a med for another nurse who is super busy, dancing to the music the teenagers are playing in their rooms, learning to rap for a patient's going away party (this was hilarious and took a lot of practice), or making the trip to the blanket warmer 45 times a shift to keep a patient cozy. I've seen her chart in a patient's room to remind them that they are not alone, sit on the bathroom floor for 45 minutes because a bath is the only thing that soothed her patient, and hug families who have suffered a terrible loss. Debi makes it through every shift with humor and is a true DAISY Nurse.
When I think of all the times she went above and beyond for the kids, one specific patient comes to my mind. We had a particularly complex (medical and emotional) patient who presented nursing with many challenges. Without a second thought, this RN stepped up and led the charge to show this kid love and great care. This RN cared for this patient nearly every shift that she was scheduled and built a relationship with this patient based on kindness and compassion.
While in the patient's room once, I observed the patient refusing medication and care, complain about a variety of things, and wanted everyone to leave them alone. I watched this RN approach the patient, hold their hand, and calmly discuss the patient's concerns. She listened to them, found simple solutions to many of their problems, made them laugh, and allowed the patient to feel their feelings. This RN completely changed the course of the patient's day by slowing down and taking the extra time with this patient.
On a different day, I was nearby as the patient began to get upset over a variety of things. The patient complained of her feet aching and said she couldn't take one more step. This RN stopped what she was doing, sat down, and rubbed the patient's feet. The smile that came across the patient's face was huge.
When this RN comes to work, she leaves everyone at the door and puts others first. She cares about every kid in the hospital, whether it is her assigned patient or not. She goes out of her way to make the day of everyone she sees. It's not uncommon to see her passing a med for another nurse who is super busy, dancing to the music the teenagers are playing in their rooms, learning to rap for a patient's going away party (this was hilarious and took a lot of practice), or making the trip to the blanket warmer 45 times a shift to keep a patient cozy. I've seen her chart in a patient's room to remind them that they are not alone, sit on the bathroom floor for 45 minutes because a bath is the only thing that soothed her patient, and hug families who have suffered a terrible loss. Debi makes it through every shift with humor and is a true DAISY Nurse.