Carissa exemplifies what it is to be a pediatric nurse. She provides compassionate family centered care and consistently goes above and beyond what is required of her. She brings a positive upbeat attitude with her every day to work, which is contagious throughout the unit. When Carissa is in charge she almost never sits down, instead she offers help throughout the unit by looking into policies, finding resources, educating families and assisting in any way possible. She is a true team player because she makes herself available and offers a hand with any tasks that need to be performed throughout the shift.
Carissa's collection of children themed t-shirts, and her ability to be goofy make her approachable to even the most timid patient. She has an ability to connect with her patients and make them feel at ease during their admission. This connection enables her to walk patients through painful procedures and guide parents through complex education sessions. When educating families, she allows extra time for questions and multiple demonstrations all while providing encouragement and reassurance.
Carissa can often be found on the unit printing out coloring pages, helping with glitter projects, playing board games and finding other ways to entertain our patients. Her smile is ever present and her laugh can be heard through the unit as she plays with her patients before tucking them into bed. For our long-term patients on the CPCU, Carissa establishes a nighttime routine and communicates the routine to the rest of the staff. This provides consistency and continuity in the care regardless of the nurse present for the shift. These small interventions have a positive impact and improve the experience for the patient, their families and the staff.