I wanted to take a moment to let MaineGeneral know how incredibly special a member of your nursing staff is. My mother-in-law was admitted to MaineGeneral. She was there for roughly 2½ weeks, discharged to her new "home", Glenridge, then shortly thereafter, returned to MaineGeneral's ICU for treatment and then returned to Glenridge.
During her first stay at MaineGeneral, she received the most incredible care, especially from a nurse on 1 West, Allie Hammond. My mother-in-law was admitted with COPD, Congestive Heart Failure, and to top it off she had the middle stages of dementia. She was not feeling well, irritable and scared. Allie's interactions with her during her stay there were kind, compassionate and incredibly professional. She not only made her feel safe and well cared for but reassured us that she was in the best of care. We, as her family, were scared for her and what the future may hold for her. We knew she was not in the best of health at her arrival and her breathing and confusion were heartbreaking to watch. The nursing staff, especially Allie, was so caring to us, explaining everything that was going on in great detail so we would understand what was happening and would be happening.
All of us spent days there with her, sometimes all at once, sometimes scattered throughout the day. Coming into a room with that many people, fielding questions and concerns had to be unnerving to them and the staff. She always greeted us with a smile, a good word and showed great concern. During that time, we adopted her as part of our own family. We watched my mother-in-law "get better" and she so looked forward to her visits.
When my mother-in-law left to go to Glenridge, she talked of Allie often. On her second return to MaineGeneral a few days later, she was in ICU and then was transferred back to 1 West. She had a different nursing team but Allie still found time to check in on her.
Unfortunately, my mother-in-law took a turn for the worse and passed away with all of us by her side. We take great joy in knowing how much she was cared for by Allie. She took a difficult time for our family and gave us the reassurance she was well cared for and loved and genuinely so. There is a special place for people like her. Allie is a caregiver who doesn't just go through the motions. Allie has it. Thank you for having Allie as a member of your nursing staff.
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She checked up on me regularly, always smiling, polite, friendly and always asked if I needed something.
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Allie exemplifies the caring, helpful, compassionate nurse that I envision when I think of a DAISY Nurse. She is a ray of sunshine who, no matter what the circumstances, will never show anything other than tremendous respect to her patients and their family. She is an excellent advocate. Not only is she amazing with her patients and recognized in rounding almost every week, but she is frequently recognized for going out of her way to help her peers. Here are a few comments from peers Allie has received this year:
"Allie has been very kind to help orient a new nurse when her preceptor was off."
"Allie will help in any situation without making the nurse feel bad for asking questions."
"Allie is always aware of what is happening on the floor and helps everyone. She communicates without getting upset, even with difficult family members."
"Every shift, she is such a great member of the team, always supportive and super helpful."
Allie was super helpful when a nurse had to accompany a patient over to CCU. Allie jumped right in and took over her team."