Tonya goes above and beyond in her duties as a nurse. She often comes in on her day off to help on short notice when we need an extra hand. Once, when my patient had a very severe case of head lice, Tonya, who had come in to help, went to the corner store to get a nit comb and other supplies we didn't have on hand. She then sat by the patient's side for nearly an hour carefully combing through her hair, talking to her, keeping her calm and relaxed. The patient was unrecognizable when Tonya was finished, both in her demeanor and her physical appearance. The personal time Tonya spent with her meant a great deal to both the patient and her family.
Another patient was here for a very long time which gave the patient anxiety. He often felt down with every roadblock that came his way. The one thing that kept him happy, and his mind occupied, was doing "Connect the Dots". There were only so many connect the dots staff could find to print on the internet, so we quickly ran out.
On her day off, Tonya bought him a large book of connect the dots and special pens to go with it. This kept him busy and calm. I know he felt he was being listened to and respected because of Tonya's kind efforts.
I personally have learned so much from her as a nurse. She is always lending a helping hand without complaint. Tonya keeps the energy up and the staff around her laughing. She is a fantastic nurse and friend, and we are lucky to have her.