I cannot wait to recognize Ann Santos RN for this honor due to her outstanding work practices, her passion for the work, and her compassion for all. RN Santos has earned the nickname "smiley" from her patients. No matter how demanding the patient, RN Santos persists in trying to coax them toward their best care outcome as outlined in the interdisciplinary Team Goals of care for her patient.
RN Santos has regularly "Gone above and beyond standard job requirements to ensure the comfort and safety and recovery of her patients." During the COVID-based visiting restrictions, one of our 90-year-old patients was depressed at not being able to see his family. RN Santos figured out a way to help the Veteran feel better. She invited his family to come to an outside window near his room and provided him with an iPhone so he could talk with his family, as well as see them. This window visit included seeing his great-granddaughter for the first time. This introduction was meaningful to both the Vet and the family. Clearly, RN Santos's actions qualify as having performed an extraordinary act of kindness by demonstrating exemplary acts of compassion and ingenuity in problem-solving.
Patients, families, and her peers express deep respect for RN Santos because of her genuine compassion for them. She meets these types of challenges head-on and will not accept less than the best when providing care to her patients.
Recently, another one of our Veterans refused to wear his "rook boot" because he felt it was "too confining". Not only did RN Santos provide in-depth education regarding the outcome of not using the boot, but she also went a step further. After reviewing the Vet's record and seeing that he was a man of faith, RN Santos sought the assistance of the Chaplain. RN Santos made a positive and significant impact on the Veteran's care and understanding of his health situation by showing that she believed in him and wanted him to get better. After his conversation with her, the Veteran's new understanding of and commitment to his own role in the healing process lead him to be more participatory and focused on his goals of care. He has since been successfully discharged.
RN Santos delivers the highest quality of relationship-based nursing care, her clinical skills and her compassion create trust and result in outstanding healing processes and experiences for her patients and staff. Her care is consistent with our organizational goals and Professional Practice Model: Empowered Leaders, Expert Caring, Innovation, Lifelong learners, and Quality achievement.