Jessica Dakota
June 2024
Jessica
Dakota
,
RN
Mental Health
Clement J. Zablocki VA Medical Center
Milwaukee
,
WI
United States

 

 

 

She encouraged me to take a break before my admission and took over watching my team and helping my new orientee.
Jess’ nomination came from a nursing colleague: “Jess demonstrates ICARE principles each day, but today I especially appreciated her caring and leadership skills as Jess helped me through a difficult day. I am a fairly new nurse and was precepting a new nurse for our unit, handling a discharge, getting ready for an admission, and caring for a particularly difficult patient. Jess checked in to see how I was doing, as she always does as charge, and could tell I was struggling despite my insisting that I could power through. She encouraged me to take a break before my admission and took over watching my team and helping my new orientee. When the admission came 2 minutes later, I was overwhelmed and nearly crying. Despite coordinating other admissions, covering breaks for CNAs, answering call, and doing other charge nurse tasks, I’m sure I didn’t realize, Jess urged me to take my time and get a break off-unit to regroup. She checked in my admission and got them settled, made sure I got to eat and gave me the best hug and words of encouragement. She kept checking in and offering help, didn’t judge me for crying, made sure my patients were safe when I stepped away, supported the learning of our orientee, and did all of that while fulfilling her charge duties. She helps to create a positive and supportive environment and I’m so lucky to have her as charge. Thank you, Jess!”