Joannie Awtry
January 2025
Joannie
Awtry
,
RN, BSN
PCU
AdventHealth Palm Coast Parkway
Palm Coast Parkway
,
FL
United States
She took as much time as dad needed to explain what was happening and why, which resonated well due to his methodical approach to life. She found ways to relate to him on a personal level, such as comparing notes on their mutual parachuting experiences.
A patient needed to be transported to another hospital for a procedure. This patient was scared and had no one that would be there for her. Joannie offered to visit the patient if she agreed to have the procedure done. The patient agreed and transport was set up. Joannie used her lunch break to go to the other hospital and get the patient settled. She told the staff there to call her when the procedure was scheduled so she could come back. They called her as soon as she got home from her overnight shift and shared that her the patient was going now for the procedure Joannie went straight to the hospital, saw the patient in pre-op and waited until they were done. She stayed with this patient the entire time to make sure she got the treatment needed and had someone with her through it all. Without Joannie this patient probably wouldn't have gotten the procedure done because she was afraid. She went above and beyond for this patient like she does for all her patients.
***
Our elderly father arrived at the hospital by ambulance in a severely weakened and dehydrated state after falling at home. A self-made man and former member of an elite branch of the service that required mental and physical toughness to qualify, he has enjoyed excellent health throughout his life and lives independently on his own. So, relying on others for medical and personal care was unfamiliar and unwelcome territory for him. Joannie was the night shift charge nurse leading dad's team during his stay and was an exemplary model of competence, compassion, responsiveness and professionalism. She executed the care plan with meticulous precision and responded quickly and thoroughly to dad's spontaneous needs, always with energy, enthusiasm and good humor- even towards the end of her grueling 12-hour shifts. She took as much time as dad needed to explain what was happening and why, which resonated well due to his methodical approach to life. She found ways to relate to him on a personal level, such as comparing notes on their mutual parachuting experiences. This brought dad great delight and made him more amenable to staying for the care he so clearly needed instead of insisting on early discharge, which would be his normal inclination. On the second night dad's room was classified as a "contact room”. As Joannie prepared to enter, a patient suffering from dementia attempted to enter before her. Joannie calmly and respectfully intervened but the patient nonetheless became verbally and physically combative while reattempting entry into my dad's room without PPE. Joannie kept her at bay with a measured but firm approach, maintaining her poise while redirecting her teammates to call security. She succeeded in defusing the situation before security arrived, protecting both the patient and my dad. Her strength and determination in handling this matter were magnified by her diminutive size. In our view, four words that describe Joannie as a nurse and person are "she walks on water".
Note: This is Joannie's 2nd DAISY Award!
***
Our elderly father arrived at the hospital by ambulance in a severely weakened and dehydrated state after falling at home. A self-made man and former member of an elite branch of the service that required mental and physical toughness to qualify, he has enjoyed excellent health throughout his life and lives independently on his own. So, relying on others for medical and personal care was unfamiliar and unwelcome territory for him. Joannie was the night shift charge nurse leading dad's team during his stay and was an exemplary model of competence, compassion, responsiveness and professionalism. She executed the care plan with meticulous precision and responded quickly and thoroughly to dad's spontaneous needs, always with energy, enthusiasm and good humor- even towards the end of her grueling 12-hour shifts. She took as much time as dad needed to explain what was happening and why, which resonated well due to his methodical approach to life. She found ways to relate to him on a personal level, such as comparing notes on their mutual parachuting experiences. This brought dad great delight and made him more amenable to staying for the care he so clearly needed instead of insisting on early discharge, which would be his normal inclination. On the second night dad's room was classified as a "contact room”. As Joannie prepared to enter, a patient suffering from dementia attempted to enter before her. Joannie calmly and respectfully intervened but the patient nonetheless became verbally and physically combative while reattempting entry into my dad's room without PPE. Joannie kept her at bay with a measured but firm approach, maintaining her poise while redirecting her teammates to call security. She succeeded in defusing the situation before security arrived, protecting both the patient and my dad. Her strength and determination in handling this matter were magnified by her diminutive size. In our view, four words that describe Joannie as a nurse and person are "she walks on water".
Note: This is Joannie's 2nd DAISY Award!