September 2010
Christinelli
Tandoc
,
BSN, CMSRN
AMCU
Winter Haven Hospital
Winter Haven
,
FL
United States
I wanted to take this opportunity to express my gratitude in a formal manner to Christinelli Tandoc. On Saturday, May 1st, I had been subjected to the most humbling experience in my entire working life.
It was “one of those nights.” Nurses had called out, HUCs had called off, and it was just hectic. Two techs, stepped up and assumed the roles of HUC, and they did a marvelous job. While one tech was assigned to be primarily the HUC, the other still had all her patient care duties to perform. She did a marvelous job helping HUC and also helping other nurses with patient care needs. These two ladies really made what could have been a really bad night, one to appreciate the value and commitment to teamwork that we strive towards on this unit. They took on these duties and did the best that they could, with never one complaint, no delays, no questions, and no hesitation.
The person who really impressed and humbled me though, was Christinelli. I had been in a MVA four years ago that left me with some lingering back issues. To this day, I still have trouble with my bilateral lower extremities due to this accident. To put it bluntly, I have been “hobbling around” for the past week or so due to a flare up. Nevertheless, I came to work, shored up on some ibuprofen, and did my job. I had been assigned to the even rooms and since we were short of staff, Christinelli took the odd side. I started off the night with 4 patients, with the possibility of going up to 5 (I do not know how many Christinelli assigned herself that night). We have had busy nights before, but this night was even more hectic. Sometime during the night, I saw an admission come in, and Christinelli took the patient. But I was so busy that I did not even notice that the patient was put in a room that was assigned to me. It had to be at least two hours later that I noticed that Christinelli was extremely busy (and looking a bit frazzled) that I asked her if she needed any assistance. (Now mind you, I have been here for four months, and I have never once seen Christinelli looking frazzled!).
She accepted, and asked me to do the ADT for her - I was in the middle of doing chart checks at the time and asked if it was okay if I did it when I was done, to which she stated that it was fine. I completed my chart checks, put away my charts, and noticed that the bedside that Christinelli had given me was missing from where I had it. I tracked down Christinelli and found her doing the ADT. I told her that I was just on my way to do it, to which she responded, “It’s okay - I had to be in here to give some meds anyway.” I asked her if she was sure, and she responded in the affirmative. It was only when I left her and walked back to the nurse’s station that it hit me that this patient was in a room that was assigned to me!!! At this realization, I asked Christinelli if that patient shouldn’t have been mine - all she said was, “That’s okay.”
I do not think that I had ever worked for/with anyone in a Charge position who would have or did do ANYTHING like this. It was 0400 the following morning when we sat down and literally “scarfed down” our dinner. It was a very hectic night, but, I can truly appreciate the teamwork that went into making it a good night. WE were all exhausted by the time 0700 arrived, but each one of the “A-Team” that worked that night, proved why we truly are the “A-Team.” All of these individuals displayed a commitment to caring, compassion and teamwork that made me very proud to call them my coworkers.
I hope that you accept this nomination, and that all of these wonderful individuals get the public praise that they so richly deserve. I know that in the profession of Nursing, we care for the patients, but this group of stellar team members also cared for fellow workers. Compassion, one of the cornerstones of this institution’s Vision/Mission was truly well displayed on this night.
It was “one of those nights.” Nurses had called out, HUCs had called off, and it was just hectic. Two techs, stepped up and assumed the roles of HUC, and they did a marvelous job. While one tech was assigned to be primarily the HUC, the other still had all her patient care duties to perform. She did a marvelous job helping HUC and also helping other nurses with patient care needs. These two ladies really made what could have been a really bad night, one to appreciate the value and commitment to teamwork that we strive towards on this unit. They took on these duties and did the best that they could, with never one complaint, no delays, no questions, and no hesitation.
The person who really impressed and humbled me though, was Christinelli. I had been in a MVA four years ago that left me with some lingering back issues. To this day, I still have trouble with my bilateral lower extremities due to this accident. To put it bluntly, I have been “hobbling around” for the past week or so due to a flare up. Nevertheless, I came to work, shored up on some ibuprofen, and did my job. I had been assigned to the even rooms and since we were short of staff, Christinelli took the odd side. I started off the night with 4 patients, with the possibility of going up to 5 (I do not know how many Christinelli assigned herself that night). We have had busy nights before, but this night was even more hectic. Sometime during the night, I saw an admission come in, and Christinelli took the patient. But I was so busy that I did not even notice that the patient was put in a room that was assigned to me. It had to be at least two hours later that I noticed that Christinelli was extremely busy (and looking a bit frazzled) that I asked her if she needed any assistance. (Now mind you, I have been here for four months, and I have never once seen Christinelli looking frazzled!).
She accepted, and asked me to do the ADT for her - I was in the middle of doing chart checks at the time and asked if it was okay if I did it when I was done, to which she stated that it was fine. I completed my chart checks, put away my charts, and noticed that the bedside that Christinelli had given me was missing from where I had it. I tracked down Christinelli and found her doing the ADT. I told her that I was just on my way to do it, to which she responded, “It’s okay - I had to be in here to give some meds anyway.” I asked her if she was sure, and she responded in the affirmative. It was only when I left her and walked back to the nurse’s station that it hit me that this patient was in a room that was assigned to me!!! At this realization, I asked Christinelli if that patient shouldn’t have been mine - all she said was, “That’s okay.”
I do not think that I had ever worked for/with anyone in a Charge position who would have or did do ANYTHING like this. It was 0400 the following morning when we sat down and literally “scarfed down” our dinner. It was a very hectic night, but, I can truly appreciate the teamwork that went into making it a good night. WE were all exhausted by the time 0700 arrived, but each one of the “A-Team” that worked that night, proved why we truly are the “A-Team.” All of these individuals displayed a commitment to caring, compassion and teamwork that made me very proud to call them my coworkers.
I hope that you accept this nomination, and that all of these wonderful individuals get the public praise that they so richly deserve. I know that in the profession of Nursing, we care for the patients, but this group of stellar team members also cared for fellow workers. Compassion, one of the cornerstones of this institution’s Vision/Mission was truly well displayed on this night.