Denise Letourneau
November 2019
Denise
Letourneau
,
BSN, RN
Emergency Department
The Miriam Hospital
Providence
,
RI
United States
The tenets of the DAISY Award include exemplifying the kind of nurse the patients, families, nurses, physicians, and other members of the health care team recognize as an outstanding clinician who demonstrates caring attributes for self and others. In addition, exhibiting highly valued professional qualities and attributes consistently meeting criteria including establishing professional connection, modeling empathy and caring attitude, providing individualized education to patients and families and building caring relationships. These criteria and attributes encompass Denise's daily practice.
There are many examples of why Denise is a DAISY Nurse. The care of one patient stands out above the rest. The emergency department serves as a safety net for underserved populations. Mr. D is considered a high-utilizer of emergency services, having already sought our services 111 times in 2019. As a patient struggling with homelessness and mental illness, Mr. D can be challenging to care for and the emergency department is a haven. Often, caregivers can become apathetic to this population, as the burden of their care is overwhelming amidst the many other pressures within this area of practice. Not the case with Denise and Mr. D.
One of our Permanent Charge Nurses recently relayed a story about one of Mr. D's recent visits. It was one filled with compassion, kindness, and empathy. Mr. D arrived one day recently with one of his usual vague complaints. He had not bathed in some time and had arrived without socks and shoes. Denise was witnessed in the triage bay where patients arrive, affectionately washing Mr. D's feet with warm cleaning cloths. When she was done, she provided a new pair of socks and a brand-new pair of sneakers that had been purchased by our ED Medical Director. These had been stored on the unit for safe-keeping until Mr. D needed them, as at times, he is found without them.
During a subsequent visit, this same Charge Nurse witnessed Denise assisting Mr. D with a warm shower and giving him a new set of clothes from our ED clothing donation closet. Mr. D can be difficult to care for, often exhibiting behaviors that are difficult for caregivers to manage. He does not behave this way for Denise. He is respectful and polite to Denise and refers to her as "Mom".
There are many examples of why Denise is a DAISY Nurse. The care of one patient stands out above the rest. The emergency department serves as a safety net for underserved populations. Mr. D is considered a high-utilizer of emergency services, having already sought our services 111 times in 2019. As a patient struggling with homelessness and mental illness, Mr. D can be challenging to care for and the emergency department is a haven. Often, caregivers can become apathetic to this population, as the burden of their care is overwhelming amidst the many other pressures within this area of practice. Not the case with Denise and Mr. D.
One of our Permanent Charge Nurses recently relayed a story about one of Mr. D's recent visits. It was one filled with compassion, kindness, and empathy. Mr. D arrived one day recently with one of his usual vague complaints. He had not bathed in some time and had arrived without socks and shoes. Denise was witnessed in the triage bay where patients arrive, affectionately washing Mr. D's feet with warm cleaning cloths. When she was done, she provided a new pair of socks and a brand-new pair of sneakers that had been purchased by our ED Medical Director. These had been stored on the unit for safe-keeping until Mr. D needed them, as at times, he is found without them.
During a subsequent visit, this same Charge Nurse witnessed Denise assisting Mr. D with a warm shower and giving him a new set of clothes from our ED clothing donation closet. Mr. D can be difficult to care for, often exhibiting behaviors that are difficult for caregivers to manage. He does not behave this way for Denise. He is respectful and polite to Denise and refers to her as "Mom".