December 2011
Anne
Stuard
,
RN
5 West PCU
UC San Diego Health System
La Jolla
,
CA
United States

 

 

 

I would like to nominate Anne Stuard from 5 West PCU. Perhaps the most appropriate way to describe the caring attributes of Anne Stuard is to hear the story from a patient's mother perspective.

"My son has been in the hospital for over a month. I have witnessed the great care of many nurses throughout the hospital. However, Anne epitomizes a great nurse. My son has difficulty communicating due to his injuries but Anne has made a connection with him that he doesn't have with anyone else. I've noticed that when Ann is his nurse he is more relaxed and his heart rate is lower. I sense that he is comforted that she is there to care for him even though he cannot speak. She touches his arm when she speaks to him. Her voice is always soothing. She caresses his head letting him know she is near. The room he is in is a busy room where everyone has a monitor, lights, and buzzers going off. Yet she finds the time to provide this same caring nature to all of her patients in this room. I (we) are very fortunate to have Ann caring for our son during this difficult time. It makes my day when I see that Anne is my son's nurse. I know today is a good day. "

We agree that Anne possess a quality that is innate and not taught. She is frequently mentioned by patients and staff for being an exceptionally caring nurse. She advocates for her patients and was recently acknowledged for bridging the communication gap between a patient and physician. The patient was so taken back by her efforts that she was able to gain this patient's trust in our healthcare system. She is a team player and has quickly gained the respect of her peers on 5west. We feel Anne is very deserving of the DAISY Award.