Donna Guffy
August 2017
Donna
Guffey
,
RN, BSN, CNOR
Operating Room
Avista Adventist Hospital
Louisville
,
CO
United States
Donna is not a face that patients see for more than a few minutes, but she makes a lasting impression on all her patients. She takes the time to make all her patients feel important, cared for and listened to. The families of her patients rave about how wonderful it felt to be updated by Donna during surgery. She goes above and beyond to provide excellent care to all her surgical patients. We are lucky to have her.
***
Donna is an amazing nurse! She usually circulates in the big spine cases. She pays attention to every detail and really takes the time to get to know her patients and their families. She frequently comes in early and stays late, documents thoroughly and completely, communicates well with surgeons, keeps preference cards updated, and willingly helps co-workers whenever she can. She brings breakfast for the entire perioperative department on Wednesdays and cares for her co-workers as well as her patients.
***
I can't give just one situation to exemplify what an amazing nurse Donna is. She is our de facto "team mom" and takes care of us all. She is quick to help out and pitch in, is tirelessly loyal to her co-workers, and the most conscientious surgical RN I've ever had the privilege to work with. She makes me want to be a better nurse. Her patients are so lucky to have her and we in the OR are lucky to have her as part of our team.
***
Have you ever worked with someone who across the board personifies clinical excellence? Have you ever encountered a person in your life who is the epitome of generosity, thoughtfulness, empathy, efficiency, and selflessness? If you have, then you are as lucky as we are to have a person like Donna Guffey in your world. I have been an RN since 1986 and have worked here at Avista in the surgery department for 10 years, both are very similar to Donna's stats. Needless to say, I have been in many work environments over the years and have encountered many different types of coworkers and practitioners. In surgery, our role is many faceted and the patients and their families do not always realize to what extent the OR nurse's expertise impacts their surgical experience and outcome. In addition to the patients, the surgeons and anesthesia rely on us to have their backs as well, not to mention being there for coworkers and other visitors to our OR environment. Donna's level of clinical expertise in every surgical service is just the beginning of what makes her so admired and respected in our unit. She knows what each surgeon needs and requires and remembers it for them and makes it happen. Of course, she is CNOR certified which is on paper one of the things that proves she is excellent and her years of experience in surgery prove the same.
She is on top of patient's needs in every way. I have seen her put patients and families at ease with her southern charm and demeanor of calm and confidence. Not to mention the many times I have seen her comfort a scared patient with a heartfelt prayer just before their gurney ride to the operating room. She is the first one to show up with birthday cards, flowers for a grieving friend, she cooks food (and I mean in the Southern church lady sense!) every single Wednesday for our in services, she is there with a hug or an inquiry into your daily life when you need it. And all of this even when she might be struggling herself.
She is the last person to make you feel like she is too busy to help with what you might need. She is the last person to put anything above a patient or a surgeon's needs even though she may have other things to do. Frequently, she is the last person to leave on a Friday afternoon because she is doing the hardest case that is going the longest.
Donna Guffey is a super star, amazing clinician, wonderful coworker, and beautiful human being.
It seems impossible to quantify the heartfelt admiration that I have for Donna clinically and personally. I'm not sure I captured how literally she sets the bar for excellence in our department. It's easy to talk about all the nice things, but to be able to put into words how ahead of the game she is in each surgery for the surgeons and anesthesia. How on top of it she is looking out for the patient's safety and wellbeing. How on top of it she is being sure to have everyone's back. It is so impressive and I've just never encountered someone like her. She is a true DAISY Nurse.
***
Donna is an amazing nurse! She usually circulates in the big spine cases. She pays attention to every detail and really takes the time to get to know her patients and their families. She frequently comes in early and stays late, documents thoroughly and completely, communicates well with surgeons, keeps preference cards updated, and willingly helps co-workers whenever she can. She brings breakfast for the entire perioperative department on Wednesdays and cares for her co-workers as well as her patients.
***
I can't give just one situation to exemplify what an amazing nurse Donna is. She is our de facto "team mom" and takes care of us all. She is quick to help out and pitch in, is tirelessly loyal to her co-workers, and the most conscientious surgical RN I've ever had the privilege to work with. She makes me want to be a better nurse. Her patients are so lucky to have her and we in the OR are lucky to have her as part of our team.
***
Have you ever worked with someone who across the board personifies clinical excellence? Have you ever encountered a person in your life who is the epitome of generosity, thoughtfulness, empathy, efficiency, and selflessness? If you have, then you are as lucky as we are to have a person like Donna Guffey in your world. I have been an RN since 1986 and have worked here at Avista in the surgery department for 10 years, both are very similar to Donna's stats. Needless to say, I have been in many work environments over the years and have encountered many different types of coworkers and practitioners. In surgery, our role is many faceted and the patients and their families do not always realize to what extent the OR nurse's expertise impacts their surgical experience and outcome. In addition to the patients, the surgeons and anesthesia rely on us to have their backs as well, not to mention being there for coworkers and other visitors to our OR environment. Donna's level of clinical expertise in every surgical service is just the beginning of what makes her so admired and respected in our unit. She knows what each surgeon needs and requires and remembers it for them and makes it happen. Of course, she is CNOR certified which is on paper one of the things that proves she is excellent and her years of experience in surgery prove the same.
She is on top of patient's needs in every way. I have seen her put patients and families at ease with her southern charm and demeanor of calm and confidence. Not to mention the many times I have seen her comfort a scared patient with a heartfelt prayer just before their gurney ride to the operating room. She is the first one to show up with birthday cards, flowers for a grieving friend, she cooks food (and I mean in the Southern church lady sense!) every single Wednesday for our in services, she is there with a hug or an inquiry into your daily life when you need it. And all of this even when she might be struggling herself.
She is the last person to make you feel like she is too busy to help with what you might need. She is the last person to put anything above a patient or a surgeon's needs even though she may have other things to do. Frequently, she is the last person to leave on a Friday afternoon because she is doing the hardest case that is going the longest.
Donna Guffey is a super star, amazing clinician, wonderful coworker, and beautiful human being.
It seems impossible to quantify the heartfelt admiration that I have for Donna clinically and personally. I'm not sure I captured how literally she sets the bar for excellence in our department. It's easy to talk about all the nice things, but to be able to put into words how ahead of the game she is in each surgery for the surgeons and anesthesia. How on top of it she is looking out for the patient's safety and wellbeing. How on top of it she is being sure to have everyone's back. It is so impressive and I've just never encountered someone like her. She is a true DAISY Nurse.