March 2021 Honoree
Amy Starich-Pluta, RN
Our oncology clinic has always been busy, but the recent loss of our Green Bay oncologist has forced us to absorb an even greater patient load. Our clinic and chemotherapy schedules are now routinely overbooked. In this stressful situation, our nurses have really shown their excellence.
With her experience, Amy has stood out as a leader among them. I have repeatedly asked her to add patients to our overbooked schedules and she has found a way to accommodate them, because it is the right thing for the patient. When we ran into a crunch during the Veteran’s day holiday week, she volunteered to come in on the holiday even though the clinic was closed, out of respect for a veteran who needed chemo on short notice. She also took a turn donning a respirator and gown to care for a COVID patient who still needed to continue curative chemoradiation for lung cancer.
What impressed me, even more, was the night Amy spent caring for a newly positive COVID admit. This veteran somehow made it past all the screening only to be diagnosed and started on oxygen in our walk-in area. He needed admission for respiratory failure, but there was nowhere for him to go- no beds left on the COVID wards or in the ED. Amy geared up and monitored him on a makeshift tele every 15 minutes for two hours after the clinic had closed, until he could be handed off to the inpatient service. I think this really highlights her outstanding dedication to each patient.
With her experience, Amy has stood out as a leader among them. I have repeatedly asked her to add patients to our overbooked schedules and she has found a way to accommodate them, because it is the right thing for the patient. When we ran into a crunch during the Veteran’s day holiday week, she volunteered to come in on the holiday even though the clinic was closed, out of respect for a veteran who needed chemo on short notice. She also took a turn donning a respirator and gown to care for a COVID patient who still needed to continue curative chemoradiation for lung cancer.
What impressed me, even more, was the night Amy spent caring for a newly positive COVID admit. This veteran somehow made it past all the screening only to be diagnosed and started on oxygen in our walk-in area. He needed admission for respiratory failure, but there was nowhere for him to go- no beds left on the COVID wards or in the ED. Amy geared up and monitored him on a makeshift tele every 15 minutes for two hours after the clinic had closed, until he could be handed off to the inpatient service. I think this really highlights her outstanding dedication to each patient.
Thank you, Amy, for your exceptional compassion, advocacy, and dedication to your patients. You truly make a difference.
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