Having worked with Ann on the 8th floor, I witnessed first-hand her compassionate nature and caring demeanor. She was always helping other nurses with their patients; so much so that families began to call on her to have their needs met, instead of their assigned nurse. She is the strongest patient and family advocate I know and will stop at nothing to deliver top-notch, excellent, family- centered-care. She embodies what Children’s Hospital Colorado stands for and I strive to be the type of nurse she is.
Ann is a model nurse every day, never letting her patients go without a bath, toys, or feeling cared for, but one particular day sticks out in my mind as being particularly “DAISY Award worthy.” After Ann transferred to PICU, I stayed close with her, which I am fortunate for as I witnessed one of the most spectacular acts of nursing care I have seen thus far.
One day I happened to see Ann working while I was down in PICU and went over to see how she was. Ann had a challenging patient on this day; she was taking care of a 3 month old NAT who was passing. I approached the room to see her completely gowned up, sweating from head to toe, rocking this infant, talking gently as the infant gasped for air. Parents were not, and had not, been there throughout this patients’ hospitalization and were not there as this infant was dying. Ann was a primary and has been with this patient since admission. She cared deeply for this patient, and was determined not to let him die alone; determined to shower this infant with love in his final moments-- even if it caused her heat stroke.
In that moment, I knew I was in the presence of a truly superior nurse and I am honored to call her my friend. She is the type of nurse I hope my own children have if ever hospitalized because I know she will shower them with the love and care they deserve. With Ann around, it truly is “All Better.”