Joanne Romanelli
January 2013
Joanne
Romanelli
,
BSN, RN
Allergy Department
Lahey Hospital & Medical Center
Burlington
,
MA
United States
Joanne Romanelli has been a nurse at Lahey Clinic for 25 years. She has been working in the Allergy Department for 16 years. Prior to working in the Allergy Department, Joanne worked on both 5West and 6East hospital floors.
Joanne is a cheerleader for all the good that is happening in our department. She recognizes and celebrates the accomplishments of her fellow colleagues, whether at work or in their personal lives. When interacting with her patients, Joanne shows a deep respect for their individuality and needs. It is this respect, and recognized individuality of each patient, that guides her nursing practice.
Joanne is both a team leader and a team player. As a senior allergy nurse, she is often in charge. While I am rounding with fellow staff, they often ask me to recognize Joanne as one who leads and solves problems in a calm and professional manner. Whether working with clinic assistants, fellow nurses, secretaries, appointment coordinators, or providers, Joanne consistently demonstrates what it means to be a part of the Allergy team.
Joanne's excellent listening skills allow her to effectively communicate with each of her patients. Whether she is performing Chemotherapy testing, food allergy testing on small children, device teaching, or administering a flu shot, her approach is compassionate and empathetic. Her manner is gentle and calming, while reassuring her patients and gaining their trust.
Joanne's nursing career has seen the evolution of evidence based nursing. Joanne is fully committed to carrying out each and every policy and procedure with the safety of her patients first and foremost in mind. Her ability to quickly research the "whys" for each new procedure ordered, or treatment offered to our patients has supported many patient care experiences in the Allergy Dept.
Joanne participates in regular learning opportunities within her specialty. She has attended both national and local meetings to expand her knowledge of the Allergy specialty. She has participated in the Boston City Wide Allergy Meetings.
The following story of a particular patient encounter, exhibits Joanne's "DAISY Way". It was my observation of this patient encounter, and Joanne's ability to regularly practice all the nursing qualities mentioned above, that led to my nomination of her as a DAISY Award Honoree.
On a Monday afternoon at 3:45pm C, a 5 year old patient in the Allergy Department, arrived with his mother for his first allergy injections. He was to receive 3 "allergy shots". C was clearly fearful, while clinging to his mother, in anticipation of receiving his injections. After Joanne gave him his first injection he became very reluctant and began crying and refusing to take any more injections. Joanne began her attempt to convince C that the next 2 injections would be very fast, and he would feel very little pain. He continued crying and became angry with his mother, kicking and screaming. As time passed, the injection station closed, and Joanne, ever so patiently, continued her pursue to convince C to take his injections. The procedural outcome of giving a child their first injections can "break or make the deal"! As time passed, and the staff became aware of the situation Joanne had found herself in, we greeted Joanne at the nurse's station. We heard how difficult it was for 5 year old C to grasp the idea of "3 allergy shots". Many of us had been in that situation, and thought that perhaps he was "just too young for this treatment". Shortly thereafter, Marie at the ASC summoned Joanne because C and his mother had returned. It was now well after injection station scheduled hours. Five minutes later, we greeted Joanne again at the nurse's station ready to hear the result of C and his mother's return. Joanne, looking quite satisfied, told us that Connor had returned and was able to cooperate in receiving the remaining injections. Joanne had clearly demonstrated relentless patience, and the art of skillful communication, while caring for her pediatric patient and his mother. She had gained the trust of both mother and child.
This situation exemplifies Joanne's outstanding role model as a nurse whose style of caring, respect, teamwork, excellence, and commitment to personal best can make a difference. Both staff and Dr S recognized and cheered for Joanne's success in this difficult situation. The individualized nursing care given by Joanne had resulted in C receiving the prescribed treatment. Most of all, the experience C and his mother had in the Allergy Department on that day, paved a road for future encounters that all the Allergy nurses would benefit from. C will most likely receive allergy injections weekly for the next five years. The trusting relationship between patient and nurse begun by Joanne is HUGE in its effect on future care of C.
I am proud to have Joanne as part of the Allergy "specialized nursing team". She is a role model extraordinaire, and I fully and completely know that she is deserving of everything the DAISY Award recognizes.
Joanne is a cheerleader for all the good that is happening in our department. She recognizes and celebrates the accomplishments of her fellow colleagues, whether at work or in their personal lives. When interacting with her patients, Joanne shows a deep respect for their individuality and needs. It is this respect, and recognized individuality of each patient, that guides her nursing practice.
Joanne is both a team leader and a team player. As a senior allergy nurse, she is often in charge. While I am rounding with fellow staff, they often ask me to recognize Joanne as one who leads and solves problems in a calm and professional manner. Whether working with clinic assistants, fellow nurses, secretaries, appointment coordinators, or providers, Joanne consistently demonstrates what it means to be a part of the Allergy team.
Joanne's excellent listening skills allow her to effectively communicate with each of her patients. Whether she is performing Chemotherapy testing, food allergy testing on small children, device teaching, or administering a flu shot, her approach is compassionate and empathetic. Her manner is gentle and calming, while reassuring her patients and gaining their trust.
Joanne's nursing career has seen the evolution of evidence based nursing. Joanne is fully committed to carrying out each and every policy and procedure with the safety of her patients first and foremost in mind. Her ability to quickly research the "whys" for each new procedure ordered, or treatment offered to our patients has supported many patient care experiences in the Allergy Dept.
Joanne participates in regular learning opportunities within her specialty. She has attended both national and local meetings to expand her knowledge of the Allergy specialty. She has participated in the Boston City Wide Allergy Meetings.
The following story of a particular patient encounter, exhibits Joanne's "DAISY Way". It was my observation of this patient encounter, and Joanne's ability to regularly practice all the nursing qualities mentioned above, that led to my nomination of her as a DAISY Award Honoree.
On a Monday afternoon at 3:45pm C, a 5 year old patient in the Allergy Department, arrived with his mother for his first allergy injections. He was to receive 3 "allergy shots". C was clearly fearful, while clinging to his mother, in anticipation of receiving his injections. After Joanne gave him his first injection he became very reluctant and began crying and refusing to take any more injections. Joanne began her attempt to convince C that the next 2 injections would be very fast, and he would feel very little pain. He continued crying and became angry with his mother, kicking and screaming. As time passed, the injection station closed, and Joanne, ever so patiently, continued her pursue to convince C to take his injections. The procedural outcome of giving a child their first injections can "break or make the deal"! As time passed, and the staff became aware of the situation Joanne had found herself in, we greeted Joanne at the nurse's station. We heard how difficult it was for 5 year old C to grasp the idea of "3 allergy shots". Many of us had been in that situation, and thought that perhaps he was "just too young for this treatment". Shortly thereafter, Marie at the ASC summoned Joanne because C and his mother had returned. It was now well after injection station scheduled hours. Five minutes later, we greeted Joanne again at the nurse's station ready to hear the result of C and his mother's return. Joanne, looking quite satisfied, told us that Connor had returned and was able to cooperate in receiving the remaining injections. Joanne had clearly demonstrated relentless patience, and the art of skillful communication, while caring for her pediatric patient and his mother. She had gained the trust of both mother and child.
This situation exemplifies Joanne's outstanding role model as a nurse whose style of caring, respect, teamwork, excellence, and commitment to personal best can make a difference. Both staff and Dr S recognized and cheered for Joanne's success in this difficult situation. The individualized nursing care given by Joanne had resulted in C receiving the prescribed treatment. Most of all, the experience C and his mother had in the Allergy Department on that day, paved a road for future encounters that all the Allergy nurses would benefit from. C will most likely receive allergy injections weekly for the next five years. The trusting relationship between patient and nurse begun by Joanne is HUGE in its effect on future care of C.
I am proud to have Joanne as part of the Allergy "specialized nursing team". She is a role model extraordinaire, and I fully and completely know that she is deserving of everything the DAISY Award recognizes.