July 2021 Honoree
Annie Fitzgerald, BSN, RN, CCRN
Annie took over care from me for an unstable pediatric head trauma early this year. During her shift, the parents received a lot of information from neurosurgery that indicated a potentially poor prognosis for their son, and this was very overwhelming and traumatizing for them. I returned that night, and, while speaking with the father, he mentioned more than once how kind Annie had been and that receiving devastating news was a little more bearable because she had been there to support them. She had taken the time to explain care multiple times, the patient’s status as the day went on, and consulted resources for the patient (Child Life) and the parents (Chaplain, resources for mother who is a recovering addict). I believe as nurses we are given the gift to help support people in the most earth-shattering moments and can help start the healing process. Annie excelled at this moment. When these parents look back on this hard experience, I truly believe they will feel a little bit of peace because Annie was there to help them get through it.
Thank you, Annie, for your exceptional compassion, advocacy, and dedication to your patients. You truly make a difference.
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