Susan always shows up to work with a positive attitude and enthusiasm for nursing. Susan consistently demonstrates the criteria for the DAISY Award in her practice. Frequently patients’ families tell me how thorough and caring she is with their family members, something I see her demonstrate with each of her patient’s every day. On the rare occasion she has a free moment, she is always doing something to improve or add to our delivery of patient care in the Head & Neck unit such as reevaluating and improving our educational handouts, making signs for each patient’s room that say “we are here to help”, as well as organizing and restocking our unit to ensure we are always prepared with necessary supplies.
Susan’s exemplary practice in preparedness as well as professionalism was shown in a serious situation a few weeks ago when she used her critical thinking skills to act quickly to deliver extraordinary patient care that ultimately saved the patient’s life. A patient’s family member notified Susan that she was running out briefly. Susan decided that she would move the C.O.W. over to the entrance of the patient’s room so she could keep an eye on her knowing the patient had tracheostomy so could not call out for help. Soon thereafter the patient developed a sentinel bleed. Susan yelled out to the PA on the unit who was able to hold pressure while Susan was able to get the staff to call rapid response, get the ENT team to the bedside, call the OR to let them know emergency was coming, and as well as getting fluids hung up all while kept talking to the patient and reassuring her. After the patient was in good hands on the way to the OR, she called the patient’s family member to come back and then sat with her to comfort her as she was extremely upset she had only left for a short time.