Cherise Debouse
October 2014
Cherise
Debouse
,
BSN, RN
Women's Health
Hospital of the University of Pennsylvania
Philadelphia
,
PA
United States
The staff of Silverstein 7 nominate Cherise DeBouse from the Department of Women's Health (OB/GYN/GYN Oncology) for the DAISY Award.
Cherise DeBouse is a Clinical Nurse II on Silverstein 7, a unit which includes multiple specialties including Obstetrics (antepartum, Postpartum and mothers who have experienced the loss of their baby) Gynecology (including medical and surgical GYN patients and GYN Oncology (including post-surgical, chemotherapy and symptom management/end of life care). Our unit can be challenging, both physically and emotionally, caring for women across the lifespan experiencing some of their most difficult days. Cherise is truly an inspirational nurse who goes out of her way daily to care for not only her patients but also to support her co-workers. Patients and staff regularly comment on Cherise's dedication, work ethic, and genuine compassion for her patients.
There are many examples each day of how Cherise goes "Above and Beyond". One most recent was when Cherise came into work to orient to her new role of skin care champion. On this day, Cherise came in early because the day before she had cared for a patient who was a morbidly obese paraplegic with multiple wounds and Cherise felt there was more she needed to do for this patient. Cherise wanted to help the patient shower before a team of specialists came by to assess the patient. Cherise helped the patient to the shower, along with another nurse and then proceeded to completely wash the patient. Afterward, the patient commented that this was the nicest thing anyone had ever done for her and that she hadn't had a shower in 9 years! Throughout the day the patient ecstatically told everyone she encountered about her long awaited bath. This type of care is not unusual for Cherise who is consistently patient centered.
Cherise embodies the fundamentals of establishing a therapeutic relationship with her patients. She continuously challenges herself to establish trust and understand her patients as a whole. I am most impressed with her ability to allow herself to be in the moment with her patients, making them feel as if they are the most important person in the world. Oftentimes, co-workers will say, "Where is Cherise?". The response is consistently, "In her patient's room". You will find her in her patient's room, teaching them about their diagnosis, encouraging them to hang in there, praying with them if asked, or just listening to stories about their private lives.
Cherise continuously unselfishly gives to her patients. She also will sit at their bedside quietly, just to keep them company when she sense that that is what they need. I recall an instance Cherise shared in which she felt that she had established a therapeutic relationship with her patient after caring for her for a few days. A few days later, Cherise described going to the patient's room and the patient would not speak or talk to her, only to express that she was angry with Cherise. When she left the room, Cherise stated how puzzled she was that the patient was so angry with her. She could not figure out what she had done to damage the relationship they had established. Cherise decided to continue to provide compassionate care for her patient just as she had done previous days. She acknowledged the patient was upset with her, but continued to assure her each time she went in the room that she cared for her. She continued to keep her word to the patient throughout the day; returning when she said she would, assuring adequate pain control, and tending to her needs. The patient began to open up to Cherise again and verbalized to Cherise that she had not done anything wrong, but was just having a difficult time being in the hospital.
Cherise works tirelessly to provide authentic leadership on out unit. In addition to patient care, Cherise is the unit scheduler, skin care champion, keeps staff up to date on screenings/vaccines and also works with Pastoral Care teaching "Nurses Need Chaplains Too". Cherise is endlessly flexible meeting the many needs of the unit from scheduling to patient care assignments. Cherise will work day, evening, or night and sometimes even 16 hour shifts just to make sure patients are well taken care of and her co-workers feel supported.
Advocating for patient need is a daily practice for Cherise. She oftentimes contributes to care coordination rounds details of the patient that not all nurses are able to learn about their patients. She brings an awareness of patient emotional and social needs to the care team. This type of contribution has helped others connect with patients and better plan their care.
Not a day goes by that I am not impressed by Cherise's calm, caring, truly empathetic nature. It is always a pleasure to see Cherise's smiling face on the unit and know the day will be just a little better because she is here.
Cherise DeBouse is a Clinical Nurse II on Silverstein 7, a unit which includes multiple specialties including Obstetrics (antepartum, Postpartum and mothers who have experienced the loss of their baby) Gynecology (including medical and surgical GYN patients and GYN Oncology (including post-surgical, chemotherapy and symptom management/end of life care). Our unit can be challenging, both physically and emotionally, caring for women across the lifespan experiencing some of their most difficult days. Cherise is truly an inspirational nurse who goes out of her way daily to care for not only her patients but also to support her co-workers. Patients and staff regularly comment on Cherise's dedication, work ethic, and genuine compassion for her patients.
There are many examples each day of how Cherise goes "Above and Beyond". One most recent was when Cherise came into work to orient to her new role of skin care champion. On this day, Cherise came in early because the day before she had cared for a patient who was a morbidly obese paraplegic with multiple wounds and Cherise felt there was more she needed to do for this patient. Cherise wanted to help the patient shower before a team of specialists came by to assess the patient. Cherise helped the patient to the shower, along with another nurse and then proceeded to completely wash the patient. Afterward, the patient commented that this was the nicest thing anyone had ever done for her and that she hadn't had a shower in 9 years! Throughout the day the patient ecstatically told everyone she encountered about her long awaited bath. This type of care is not unusual for Cherise who is consistently patient centered.
Cherise embodies the fundamentals of establishing a therapeutic relationship with her patients. She continuously challenges herself to establish trust and understand her patients as a whole. I am most impressed with her ability to allow herself to be in the moment with her patients, making them feel as if they are the most important person in the world. Oftentimes, co-workers will say, "Where is Cherise?". The response is consistently, "In her patient's room". You will find her in her patient's room, teaching them about their diagnosis, encouraging them to hang in there, praying with them if asked, or just listening to stories about their private lives.
Cherise continuously unselfishly gives to her patients. She also will sit at their bedside quietly, just to keep them company when she sense that that is what they need. I recall an instance Cherise shared in which she felt that she had established a therapeutic relationship with her patient after caring for her for a few days. A few days later, Cherise described going to the patient's room and the patient would not speak or talk to her, only to express that she was angry with Cherise. When she left the room, Cherise stated how puzzled she was that the patient was so angry with her. She could not figure out what she had done to damage the relationship they had established. Cherise decided to continue to provide compassionate care for her patient just as she had done previous days. She acknowledged the patient was upset with her, but continued to assure her each time she went in the room that she cared for her. She continued to keep her word to the patient throughout the day; returning when she said she would, assuring adequate pain control, and tending to her needs. The patient began to open up to Cherise again and verbalized to Cherise that she had not done anything wrong, but was just having a difficult time being in the hospital.
Cherise works tirelessly to provide authentic leadership on out unit. In addition to patient care, Cherise is the unit scheduler, skin care champion, keeps staff up to date on screenings/vaccines and also works with Pastoral Care teaching "Nurses Need Chaplains Too". Cherise is endlessly flexible meeting the many needs of the unit from scheduling to patient care assignments. Cherise will work day, evening, or night and sometimes even 16 hour shifts just to make sure patients are well taken care of and her co-workers feel supported.
Advocating for patient need is a daily practice for Cherise. She oftentimes contributes to care coordination rounds details of the patient that not all nurses are able to learn about their patients. She brings an awareness of patient emotional and social needs to the care team. This type of contribution has helped others connect with patients and better plan their care.
Not a day goes by that I am not impressed by Cherise's calm, caring, truly empathetic nature. It is always a pleasure to see Cherise's smiling face on the unit and know the day will be just a little better because she is here.