Marilie Diente
November 2024
Marilie
Diente
,
RN
Mental Health
VA Long Beach Healthcare System
Long Beach
,
CA
United States
If Marilie was not consistent and showed her passion for the treatment of Veterans, this Veteran would not have received the critical care that was needed.
It is with great admiration that I nominate Marilie Diente, RN for the DAISY Award, a recognition so befitting of her unwavering dedication, profound compassion, and selflessness in serving the Veteran’s entrusted to her care.
As a Mental Health nurse for the Long Beach VA Facility, Marilie exemplifies the essence of her passion for the nursing profession and commitment to the well-being of others. She constantly stays abreast of current policies to ensure she is performing the most up-to-date care and shares her findings with her peers to help elevate their practices as well. She does this with grace and humbleness, which is well received.
From the moment Veterans walk through the door, Marilie ensures that they feel seen, heard, and valued. Her Empathy can be seen as she listens to the veterans' stories with her whole heart and recognizes the courage they have taken to share their experiences with her. She fosters an environment of trust by honoring their experiences and maintaining a judgement-free space, allowing each veteran to take the first step toward healing.
Marilie is inspiring in how she works with her team and the trust that they have for one another. She collaborates seamlessly with the interdisciplinary teams, contributing her insights and ensuring that every Veteran receives comprehensive and personalized care. Whether assisting a colleague with a challenging case or stepping in to support a Veteran during a crisis, Marilie consistently prioritizes the greater good of the team and the patients they all serve. I have witnessed her exceptional care during a time when she was “juggling” her many job duties and left her area to help a veteran who was in distress and needed immediate housing and connection with the Veteran Resource Center. I saw this act as showing selflessness, not only by possibly transforming a Veteran’s life, but also inspiring her colleagues to emulate her compassion and resourcefulness.
Admirable attributes extend beyond Marilie’s clinical skills. She is a constant advocate for mental health awareness for Veterans and seeks innovative solutions to improve their quality of life. Her love for the nursing profession shines through in her willingness to mentor new nursing staff, share her knowledge, and foster a culture of learning through growth.
One late afternoon in our LB VA clinic, she called a veteran via telephone, with whom she was having difficulty getting in contact. The veteran was flagged as a high-risk and a RACH veteran. They had not followed up with any of their providers, but she continued her attempt to contact them. She would leave discrete messages day after day and finally was able to speak with them. They disclosed that they were not feeling well and that was why they had not followed up with their providers. Marilie encouraged the veteran to come into the VA, but with some hesitation when they arrived at the clinic, multiple medical concerns were disclosed, and they agreed to go to the ER for additional treatment. If Marilie was not consistent and showed her passion for the treatment of Veterans, this Veteran would not have received the critical care that was needed.
During the initial visit with the Veteran, they expressed how they felt overwhelmed by life and losing the will to live. This is why the veteran did not want to follow up with treatment; they knew something was wrong. Their eyesight was declining, being fatigued and weak often, experiencing dizziness and losing weight because he was not caring for their diabetes appropriately. Marilie helped prepare the Veteran for the transfer to the Emergency Room visit and inpatient admission by actively listening to their concerns, validating their feelings, and providing support. The days following admission, she would call the Veteran to check on their progress, provide reminders for follow up appointments and connect them with additional resources for support.
The act of selflessness highlights the nurse’s deep commitment to her patients' well-being, willingness to go beyond her duties, and role as a trusted advocate and lifeline for Veterans facing crisis. Her compassion, empathy, and dedication to serving those who have served show her commitment to excellence in nursing and make her a shining example of what it means to be a VA mental health nurse.
As a Mental Health nurse for the Long Beach VA Facility, Marilie exemplifies the essence of her passion for the nursing profession and commitment to the well-being of others. She constantly stays abreast of current policies to ensure she is performing the most up-to-date care and shares her findings with her peers to help elevate their practices as well. She does this with grace and humbleness, which is well received.
From the moment Veterans walk through the door, Marilie ensures that they feel seen, heard, and valued. Her Empathy can be seen as she listens to the veterans' stories with her whole heart and recognizes the courage they have taken to share their experiences with her. She fosters an environment of trust by honoring their experiences and maintaining a judgement-free space, allowing each veteran to take the first step toward healing.
Marilie is inspiring in how she works with her team and the trust that they have for one another. She collaborates seamlessly with the interdisciplinary teams, contributing her insights and ensuring that every Veteran receives comprehensive and personalized care. Whether assisting a colleague with a challenging case or stepping in to support a Veteran during a crisis, Marilie consistently prioritizes the greater good of the team and the patients they all serve. I have witnessed her exceptional care during a time when she was “juggling” her many job duties and left her area to help a veteran who was in distress and needed immediate housing and connection with the Veteran Resource Center. I saw this act as showing selflessness, not only by possibly transforming a Veteran’s life, but also inspiring her colleagues to emulate her compassion and resourcefulness.
Admirable attributes extend beyond Marilie’s clinical skills. She is a constant advocate for mental health awareness for Veterans and seeks innovative solutions to improve their quality of life. Her love for the nursing profession shines through in her willingness to mentor new nursing staff, share her knowledge, and foster a culture of learning through growth.
One late afternoon in our LB VA clinic, she called a veteran via telephone, with whom she was having difficulty getting in contact. The veteran was flagged as a high-risk and a RACH veteran. They had not followed up with any of their providers, but she continued her attempt to contact them. She would leave discrete messages day after day and finally was able to speak with them. They disclosed that they were not feeling well and that was why they had not followed up with their providers. Marilie encouraged the veteran to come into the VA, but with some hesitation when they arrived at the clinic, multiple medical concerns were disclosed, and they agreed to go to the ER for additional treatment. If Marilie was not consistent and showed her passion for the treatment of Veterans, this Veteran would not have received the critical care that was needed.
During the initial visit with the Veteran, they expressed how they felt overwhelmed by life and losing the will to live. This is why the veteran did not want to follow up with treatment; they knew something was wrong. Their eyesight was declining, being fatigued and weak often, experiencing dizziness and losing weight because he was not caring for their diabetes appropriately. Marilie helped prepare the Veteran for the transfer to the Emergency Room visit and inpatient admission by actively listening to their concerns, validating their feelings, and providing support. The days following admission, she would call the Veteran to check on their progress, provide reminders for follow up appointments and connect them with additional resources for support.
The act of selflessness highlights the nurse’s deep commitment to her patients' well-being, willingness to go beyond her duties, and role as a trusted advocate and lifeline for Veterans facing crisis. Her compassion, empathy, and dedication to serving those who have served show her commitment to excellence in nursing and make her a shining example of what it means to be a VA mental health nurse.