May 2021
Homes
Program
HOMES Program
Parkland Health & Hospital System
Dallas
,
TX
United States
Participants: Alexis Gonzalez, LVN, Allison Long, LVN, Andrea Piland, RN, Dolores Diaz, MSN, RN

 

 

 

This team traveled around the metroplex providing support to the community in a number of different venues.
This department provides the highest level of respect daily with the population of patients they see regularly but none more than this past year due to the pandemic. This department was out front and was one of the first if not the first hospital in the DFW outside testing for COVID. This department had the highest of compassion waiting in the heat in jump suit in 100-degree weather and out in the freezing cold during the winter months. The staff in this department did not want to call in or think about taking a day off because they all have walked in each other’s shoes and knew the struggles the team would have and the impact on the community if one was out.

This team traveled around the metroplex providing support to the community in a number of different venues. The leadership among this department starts with the manager how regularly she would take over for staff so they could take a lunch or seeking support from other departments. She once text me asking me if I could come over one day and help the team. Little did in know it was 90 degrees and hot. When I was helping provide support everyone was so kind and appreciative.

The staff was amazing with dealing with conflict for example, one staff member helped another to a chair when an elderly women almost fell when she walked up to seek care. The patient was very upset because she did not have an appointment and did not have transportation. The staff member gave her one of her own waters from the back and spoke with someone and was able to see the patient. Seeing the amount of compassion, the staff had while being so busy and hot changed my thinking of wanting to help to needing to help because of seeing how much each of them cared.

Another time I was on site and was seeing the collaboration with this team with other members of the community such as Dallas fire department, EMS, school nurses and many more. One great example of respect is when a student nurse was asking about being a real nurse and the busy Parkland nurse said, “Nursing is a lifestyle you have to be ready to except because every family member and friend are going to tell you all there problems and illness.” Making the student laugh the nurse said, “Here is my name, call me and I will help you get a job here at Parkland and maybe one day you can work alongside me here.” This was great to see how passionate the team is about their job and sharing with nursing students. This team has been in every hot spot and done so much for our community. I could not list all the things this team has done without giving up the department's name but know they are simply Parkland’s best!