Donnalee is undoubtedly an Extraordinary Nurse. She is an expert nurse and a tower of strength. She is smart, unassuming, and her witty comebacks can lighten up the most stressful of situations. She cares for difficult patients and does not shy away from critical conditions. She aides her peers when situations arise. Physicians and nurses respect and trust her.
I can tell numerous stories that exemplify her character. The most recent one was just a few weeks ago when a pregnant woman arrived at the emergency room to deliver her baby. Births are generally joyful events, however, when one occurs at a critical access hospital that has no specialists on-site other than the emergency room staff, a higher state of alert ensues; Donnalee being a woman of faith, I know the nurse silently prayed the event would be blessed.
How she carried herself and cared for the patient and the patient's significant other was not only remarkable but also inspiring. She provided the soon to be mother with the support needed by keeping her focused, rubbing her back, and coaching her breathing. Donnalee remained serene and by doing so, she transmitted the same sense of calmness to the patient. Once the baby was born, she remained with the patient and her newborn baby- caring, coaching, teaching, and providing comfort to the mother and baby. For the following two days, she called the patient at home to check on her and her baby. She took care of this family as if it was her own.
Her backbone is strong and she knows to trust her nursing compass. She also is genuinely real and candid. She lets herself be vulnerable and will easily understand her shortcomings and take the lessons learned. Above all, she is a compassionate and caring soul. More times than I can count, I have seen her hold a patient's hand, wipe tears, share kind words, and give her time to comfort and show sincere empathy. I see her silently moving from task to task, patient to patient, doing the care, providing comfort, sharing the knowledge, and always advocating for her patients. She is resourceful, and she will move mountains to ensure her patients get the help they need. Her main concern is to be of service to those under her care. She carries on her duties with benevolence and a sincere desire to help. She expects nothing other than the satisfaction of a job well done.
On a side note- In 2017 hurricane Irma ravaged through the Florida Keys leaving Donnalee without a home or any other personal possessions. While she works on rebuilding her house, she has been living with her husband and dog in a small trailer. After the storm, she continued to show up to work each and every day and has continued to do so to this date. Her resilience does not waver.
I will end by shedding some light on her relationship with her hospital family. As I mentioned before, her peers and physicians respect and trust her. When she has something to say, physicians will readily listen. Years of working in the trenches dealing with all kind of situations have given her that sixth sense one could never learn from textbooks. Around her peers, she conveys a protective and maternal nature towards those younger than herself. She is the silent leader to whom nurses listen, respect, and go to for advice. She has her peers' back, and she will defend, advocate, and sink or swim with them at any time.
This nurse is an Extraordinary Murse. She is also a wife, mother, and grandmother. Her legacy to nursing is evident in her own family, as her daughter has followed her lead and has joined the nursing profession and works as an advanced nurse practitioner.
Note: This is Donnalee's 2nd DAISY Award!