Erin Stone
October 2014
Erin
Stone
,
BSN
Cardiopulmonary Unit, T3
Central Maine Medical Center
Lewiston
,
ME
United States

 

 

 

Back in July, a patient had a nurse and wanted to know how this nurse could be recognized. The nurse's name is Erin Stone. Erin had educated the patient on quitting smoking and took the time to sit and show the patient that she cared. To us, this is a simple task, educating patients, but to the patient it meant a lot for Erin to take that time. This patient stated that "Erin just fits all of the criteria for receiving a DAISY Award. Erin went far and beyond what she needed to do".

As both a co-worker and a clinical and spiritual mentor, Erin empowers nurses to excel in their roles. She is personally invested in the mission and values of Central Maine Medical Center to provide the highest quality, patient centered care. Erin is legendary for her teamwork, her holistic values, and her creativity in delivering care, her excellent communication, and her consummate clinical skills. She strives for excellence, fostering an environment where her feedback and presence are vital to our staff.

Erin offers the gift of anticipating her patient's needs, focusing on their home situation, their current needs and values, and she is a zealous patient advocate. She makes connections with patients by fostering an affirmative framework, speaking with them at their level, at the bedside, holding their hands and listening. Her compassionate approach works on all patients from the dying to the argumentative because they connect on a deeper level and feel heard. Erin uses the power of "presence", listening to the families' concerns and letting them verbalize their fears. She offers comfort measures not only to the patient, but to the extended family as well. Working on a busy unit and having other patients that are waiting for her is never apparent to any family during this stressful time.

Erin's caregiving extends far beyond the walls of CMMC, reaching out to the community. She volunteers at the United Congregational Church of New Gloucester in their food pantry, and for ten years has worked with Edie's Angels, partnering with Blake Street Towers in Lewiston, to provide meals, food baskets and spirituality to the 80+ residents that live there. On her day off she will drive to a local Hannaford's and pick up day old items and then deliver them from New Gloucester to Lewiston because the people are hungry and they run out of food and Erin will not allow this. No one should experience hunger when there is something that can be done.

Wouldn't you appreciate a nurse who comes down to your level, educationally, physically and emotionally, who reaches out to your heart and soul, grabs on and won't let go? Whose presence in your room lightens your mood and makes you smile, encouraging your endorphins to heal? Well Erin is that light and magnetic energy. Erin maintains a clear line of sight that connects her to her own work and the care of her patients by her physical presence. She communicates her intensity of devotion to her profession and her patients on a daily basis. She once commented about another nurse that their practice was "second only to God" and that is how I feel about Erin and her presence in the nursing profession. Our future hinges on the guidance and caring from individuals such as Erin.