December 2013
Paula
Heiskell
,
RN
Medical Surgical Unit
Saint Luke's East Hospital
Lee's Summit
,
MO
United States
Paula joined the team at Saint Luke's East Hospital in February 2011. Paula transferred to us from St. John's Regional Medical Center in Joplin, MO - which is the hospital destroyed in the May 2011 tornado. The day after this tragedy, Paula unselfishly headed to Joplin to volunteer her services. This is an example of the type of nurse Paula is! This is a well deserved recognition for Paula, who is a very humble person. She is described by her patients as, caring, compassionate, attentive, and a positive spirit. She is described by peers as hard working, passionate, wise, resilient, and caring.
Since joining our team, Paula has received at least 5 DAISY Award nominations and 10 best place cards, but honesty, we've lost count. The nomination from her peer reads:
"Paula is one those special persons that in the midst of craziness, walks into a room and treats the patient as if they were the only thing in the world that matters. She gives her full attention and treats all her patients with love and respect. I recently witnessed Paula showing her great compassion during a rapid response. She was caring for an elderly lady with a previous stroke. The patient was increasingly more unresponsive, and her blood pressure was extremely low. Paula quickly provided the rapid response team with the necessary patient information and called the physician. When the physician arrived, others were scrambling to find the patient's contact numbers but Paula already had the information written on her papers and ready to go. During the hustle and bustle of all the tasks at hand, I just happened to look at Paula, who had stationed herself at the head of the bed, and with one hand she was holding the patients hand, and her other hand was on the patient's face. She was looking her in the eye, speaking directly to her, assuring her that she was being taken care of and that her family had been called. Paula was the one who remembered "THE PERSON". I looked at Paula and thought, what a GREAT nurse. I hope we all remember why we are called to be here. Paula is a great reminder!"
Congratulations Paula, we are honored to have you as a Saint Luke's East team member!
Since joining our team, Paula has received at least 5 DAISY Award nominations and 10 best place cards, but honesty, we've lost count. The nomination from her peer reads:
"Paula is one those special persons that in the midst of craziness, walks into a room and treats the patient as if they were the only thing in the world that matters. She gives her full attention and treats all her patients with love and respect. I recently witnessed Paula showing her great compassion during a rapid response. She was caring for an elderly lady with a previous stroke. The patient was increasingly more unresponsive, and her blood pressure was extremely low. Paula quickly provided the rapid response team with the necessary patient information and called the physician. When the physician arrived, others were scrambling to find the patient's contact numbers but Paula already had the information written on her papers and ready to go. During the hustle and bustle of all the tasks at hand, I just happened to look at Paula, who had stationed herself at the head of the bed, and with one hand she was holding the patients hand, and her other hand was on the patient's face. She was looking her in the eye, speaking directly to her, assuring her that she was being taken care of and that her family had been called. Paula was the one who remembered "THE PERSON". I looked at Paula and thought, what a GREAT nurse. I hope we all remember why we are called to be here. Paula is a great reminder!"
Congratulations Paula, we are honored to have you as a Saint Luke's East team member!