I’ve worked for St. John as a PCY for six years. In my six years at St. John I have seen a lot of things. From outstanding patient care to the other spectrum of patient care. I’ve seen different ways health care workers approach our patients and the distance they are willing to go through to accomplish a patient’s needs and goals. That said, never in my six years have I seen such extraordinary; above and beyond, level of care displayed by my charge nurse Danielle Gwyn. When I worked on 5 North for 4 years, I saw many great nurses handle incredible, stressful situations on a daily basis. However, when I transferred to 2 West, (Step down/Critical Care) I was flabbergasted by the acuity of the floor and the challenges that it brought.

At first I was unsure if I was the right fit for such a significant floor that required diligent care to keep our patients stable, safe, healthy, and progressing in the right direction. Time after time I contemplated transferring out, however Danielle was always there to give me words of encouragement, advice, and guidance on how to deal with my stressful periods. In the last two years, Danielle not only served as my charge nurse but as a mentor who was able to help me grow and adapt to my role on 2 West; giving me the confidence to provide optimal care for our most difficult patients. Under Danielle’s guidance I had no trouble fully meeting expectations. In addition, I started getting thank you cards and letters from family members, and praises from management, which made me feel like a true team player on the unit I wanted to transfer out from.

Danielle has the ability to affect the people around her positively. I’ve seen it time after time not with just the staff but her patients as well. When it came to patient care she would lead by example. Danielle would go above and beyond for her patients by providing not just professional care but holistic care that I never understood the importance of when it was introduced at my orientation six years ago. Danielle’s leadership showed me how holistic care is applied and the importance of it. Danielle would constantly check up on her patients throughout her shift and ask how they were doing, turning on the patient’s television to spiritual channel or soothing music channel or by providing aromatherapy. Danielle demonstrated how simply holding a patient’s hand in a calming voice saying “everything is going to be alright” would subside the patient’s anxiety or how her words would calm the distress more efficiently than some of the anxiety medications. Danielle showed me that some of our difficult patients that need constant care, are sometimes mislabeled and misunderstood. She showed me that patients labeled “needy” are not needy at all but instead are just lonely. For Danielle, patients always came first. Without hesitation she would take her computer into the room and sit with the patient instead of at the desk with the other nurses and do her charting while comforting that so called “needy patient”.

Danielle’s above and beyond level of care does not stop at the Holistic portion, but instead that is just the beginning. Whenever Danielle was working and I was not assigned as her PCT, I could always rely on her for assistance. When Danielle was working and I expressed a concern to her, no matter how big or small it was, she would stop everything she was doing and address the concern immediately, making sure the patient was alright and safe.

skill and knowledge is unmeasurable. I have witnessed countless critical moments were she noticed and intervened immediately when she came across incorrect medications ordered or vital lab results that would dramatically affect the patients’ health. I have observed physicians asking Danielle for advice and recommendations about patient care. Then ordering exactly what she suggested. I can’t speak enough on Danielle’s ability to recognize a critical issue and make quick decisions on what course to take. That couldn’t be any truer than when she engages in a code or rapid response. I have witnessed Danielle take the initiative and suggest appropriate care. That has saved and averted a number of unfortunate outcomes. The level of care and composure she displays when she is in charge and understaffed is astonishing!  She truly is a vital asset to this organization. As a nursing student, I hope to one day reach the level of nursing care that she continues to provide.

I proudly say that Danielle Gwyn is my role model and the kind of nurse I wish to be.

*This is Danielle's 2nd DAISY Award!