Danielle has progressed to charge nurse for the night shift on her rotation and is now responsible for all aspects of patient care and management. Over the past months, she consistently is staffed with more agency RNs than UH employees. She constantly acts as a resource to all of her staff and manages information sharing with ease among her peers.
Danielle exhibits outstanding clinical skills, knowledge, and judgments. She frequently is thinking several steps ahead and anticipating the needs of all the patients and families. She is forever keeping safety in mind of her patients and the staff, often performing proactively to meet those needs to avoid a crisis.
I have had the opportunity to work with Danielle on many occasions where she took initiative and managed situations effectively and completely, in situations that others would have turfed to a supervisor or said 'that's not my job.' I cannot recall any interaction with Danielle involving a patient, family, physician, or co-worker that she had not attempted intervention and resolution prior to seeking assistance. Rarely are there occasions that she has to have additional assistance in resolution.
Most recently, there was a patient emergency on another floor. The situation deteriorated to the unexpected death of an elderly patient. The daughter of the patient had been present at the onset of the emergency. During the process, I observed Danielle in the atrium sitting with the daughter holding her hand, and providing comforting explanations and conversation. Danielle continued to sit with the family member until the patient was prepared for viewing and the primary staff was then available to provide support to the family. Danielle's interaction with the family was the epitome of compassion and concern.
Danielle is a shining example for others to emulate. These examples only skim the surface of the types of actions she does routinely without thought or hesitation.