Ashleigh Leavine
August 2024
Ashleigh
Leavine
,
RN
Med-Surg/Oncology
Champlain Valley Physicians Hospital
Plattsburgh
,
NY
United States
Her compassion, integrity, and willingness to listen to her patient and his family was unparalleled. Our family only wanted to ensure his comfort, and Ashleigh made sure that happened.
When a patient is dying, that person’s comfort and final wishes are of the utmost importance.
A local family witnessed one nurse’s dedication to that compassionate care, and that is why Ashleigh Leavine, RN was recognized today as the latest recipient of The DAISY Award for Extraordinary Nurses at University of Vermont Health Network – Champlain Valley Physicians Hospital (CVPH).
“My father-in-law was lucky enough to have Ashleigh as his nurse in his last hours of life,” writes T in her nomination of Leavine. T is a nurse on the hospital’s perioperative services team.
“She was an exceptional nurse and an even better advocate to ensure that my father-in-law remained comfortable at the end of his life,” T continues.
Her father-in-law was transferred to CVPH’s Emergency Department (ED) for aspiration pneumonia. The ED team worked to create a space in a quiet room on the fifth floor, where Leavine was working the overnight shift.
T says Leavine, who has been with the hospital for more than a decade, could immediately tell that he was uncomfortable with a fast respiratory rate and labored breathing.
“She worked quickly to get him medicated. Within 30 minutes, he was resting comfortably,” she recalls.
With each passing hour, her father-in-law required medication more often, and the doses were not working. T watched on as Leavine continued to monitor and assess him, strongly advocating for what was best for her patient while honoring his wishes throughout the night.
As night turned to morning, T’s father-in-law took his final breaths. Despite her despair at the moment, she realized just what Leavine had given him and the entire family. She says he was able to pass comfortably and with his family by his side. He did not suffer and was constantly being cared for by Leavine.
“Her compassion, integrity, and willingness to listen to her patient and his family was unparalleled. Our family only wanted to ensure his comfort, and Ashleigh made sure that happened,” T remembers.
“Her biggest asset is that she’s an advocate for her patients and their loved ones, and that is clear not just in this instance, but every single shift she works,” adds the Nurse Manager on R5, which regularly cares for patients reaching the end of their lives. “She’s willing to have the difficult conversations, whether it is with the family or providers to make sure every patient’s final wishes are honored.”
A local family witnessed one nurse’s dedication to that compassionate care, and that is why Ashleigh Leavine, RN was recognized today as the latest recipient of The DAISY Award for Extraordinary Nurses at University of Vermont Health Network – Champlain Valley Physicians Hospital (CVPH).
“My father-in-law was lucky enough to have Ashleigh as his nurse in his last hours of life,” writes T in her nomination of Leavine. T is a nurse on the hospital’s perioperative services team.
“She was an exceptional nurse and an even better advocate to ensure that my father-in-law remained comfortable at the end of his life,” T continues.
Her father-in-law was transferred to CVPH’s Emergency Department (ED) for aspiration pneumonia. The ED team worked to create a space in a quiet room on the fifth floor, where Leavine was working the overnight shift.
T says Leavine, who has been with the hospital for more than a decade, could immediately tell that he was uncomfortable with a fast respiratory rate and labored breathing.
“She worked quickly to get him medicated. Within 30 minutes, he was resting comfortably,” she recalls.
With each passing hour, her father-in-law required medication more often, and the doses were not working. T watched on as Leavine continued to monitor and assess him, strongly advocating for what was best for her patient while honoring his wishes throughout the night.
As night turned to morning, T’s father-in-law took his final breaths. Despite her despair at the moment, she realized just what Leavine had given him and the entire family. She says he was able to pass comfortably and with his family by his side. He did not suffer and was constantly being cared for by Leavine.
“Her compassion, integrity, and willingness to listen to her patient and his family was unparalleled. Our family only wanted to ensure his comfort, and Ashleigh made sure that happened,” T remembers.
“Her biggest asset is that she’s an advocate for her patients and their loved ones, and that is clear not just in this instance, but every single shift she works,” adds the Nurse Manager on R5, which regularly cares for patients reaching the end of their lives. “She’s willing to have the difficult conversations, whether it is with the family or providers to make sure every patient’s final wishes are honored.”