Dee Eilerman is a positive role model and an inspiring nurse in the emergency department. She is devoted to increasing patient satisfaction, while being a mentor to other nurses. She brings with her history of being a security officer and a behavioral health tech at UVMC. She is great with patients that are more challenging and will frequently volunteer to be their nurse. When she is working with agitated and complicated patients she brings with her a calmness and cohesiveness that is much needed in these situations.
She is co-chairman of the ED unit council and was recently selected to serve on the exemplary professional practice council. She is well respected by her peers and often asked for guidance with upset patients and family. While doing my patient rounding I spoke with one of her patients. He told me that he had come into the ED upset and frustrated with his doctor. He said that Dee always came into the room smiling and he was upset and a little loud but she took the time to listen to him and to let him know that she would help him. "She never made me feel like I was wasting her time and that I mattered. I walked in there angry and frustrated with my family doctor and left with a smile on my face". He could not say enough good things about her positive and caring attitude.
I think that as nurses this is one of the most important thing we can do for our patients. We need to let them know that we truly do care about the patient holistically and not just their physical problem but their psychological issues that happen when coming to the hospital. Dee is truly an ambassador who treats our patients with caring and compassion.