This year, one of our very own, well-respected Oncology Nurses, P was diagnosed with Lung Cancer. When our team learned about the diagnosis they rallied and provided unbelievable support, love, and courage to her.
Carolyn Smith RN Nurse manager coordinated a daily calendar schedule to make sure one of our staff members checked on P and provided necessary care and activities of daily living that were needed. P herself knew she needed to downsize her home and placed her condo up for sale. Our staff helped with coordination efforts packing up her home and assisted with moving.
Also during P's Oncology Treatment, our team made sure she was still involved in unit care community activity.
Our team provided her with the courage and strength when it came for Hospice care and made sure she was comfortable as much as possible. Our team also provided the necessary support to P's mother as well.
P will always be remembered in our hearts.
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Oncology Nursing is a specialty that can be both incredibly difficult and extremely rewarding. It is not uncommon to find these nurses administering some of the most complex medications and also sitting with a patient discussing the unimaginable with their friends and family members.
P was one of these select nurses and this nomination surrounds her and her 4 South team. P's role transitioned from that of an experienced NCH Oncology nurse to that of a patient fighting cancer herself. From the moment of diagnosis, the staff rallied behind P. They were both her caregivers while she was a patient in the hospital and when she was home.
P's family, like many others, were having trouble coming to terms with her terminal diagnosis. They really were not emotionally or physically prepared to meet the needs for P's care. P however, didn't need to worry for a second what would happen to her as she got weaker. The 4S team lead by Carolyn Smith stepped up to the plate. They literally became her family and supported her through everything, even death. P was never alone and she certainly didn't die alone. P was an NCH patient, an NCH 4S nurse, and most of all a champion for NCH Oncology. She was spirited and gave everything she had at work and in her battle with this disease. Her co-workers who in the end were her caregivers supported her in a way that is rarely seen. Their compassion and devotion to their comrade really brings new meaning to "going above and beyond". In this case, going above and beyond equated to loyalty, compassion, and an expression of humanity that makes us remember that giving back to others gives us purpose in life.
A huge thank you goes out to the entire Oncology team on 4S!
Team members honored with this DAISY TEAM Award:
Suzanne Graziano, Megan Shutter RN, Maria Frost RN, Julia Amundson RN, Dolores Martinez CT, Melissa Kieffer RN, Evan Keller RN, James Cruz US, Marisol Rosa CT, Carolyn Smith RN, Jeff Weiss, Pharmacy, Ann Kiersted AA, Susan Davidson RN, Michelle Bennette RN, Stephanie Chandler RN, Emily Guerrero RN, Tracy Keith RN, Joy Martin RN, Alicia Mennig RN, Mic More RN, Carolyn Paget RN, Rebecca Trucksess RN, Richemond Celiferme CT, Nancy Fede CT, Tina Lara CT, Lindy Muravchik CT, Nancy Casey RN, Kathlin Chou RN, John Gonzper RN, Cathy Kennedy RN, Luann Laux RN, Jessica Mireles RN, Joe Mueller RN, Margaret Murry RN, Mary Smith RN, Danouche Simon RN, James O'Neil LPN, Betty Boileau CT, Lavilla Buchanan CT, Cory Heck CT, Brittany Stevens CT, Liza Romano US, Darianna Colina US