Irene Lee provides exemplary quality care for our patients in a professional and caring manner. Nursing is a difficult career, but Irene brings a smile every day in her profession, and is thoroughly a gem to work with. Her positive attitude helps make everyone feel at ease in a place where suffering can easily overwhelm.
Despite oftentimes being busy with multiple alarms and the general high-intensity of being in the Intensive Care Unit, Irene never breaks her kind composure. In fact, when situations get busy she frequently manages almost to be seen in two patients' rooms simultaneously - one minute she is with the patient and if you blink too long, she'll already be with another. And yet, when patients and families are in distress, she will spend all the time that is needed.
You can tell Irene cares for her patients, as she takes the time to explain what they might not have understood from the doctor, or in simple gestures such as bringing out extra blankets for the family. For example, when our patient, a very sick lady with cancer, had her oncologist give her a poor prognosis and recommend hospice as no other treatments were available, the family wanted to speak with Irene first before speaking with the physicians on the primary team, as they felt she was the best person to talk to.
Irene highlights how teamwork is beneficial in contemporary medical units. She willingly does whatever is needed to expedite patient care, whether it is simply helping bring trash bags in to assist the PCA/patient care tech, or doing technical procedures for patients of other nurses when they are busy.
Irene is truly a nurse who makes patients and staff happy to be at Emory. I appreciate her union of expertise and compassion, and as someone who is beacon of the strengths of the Emory Healthcare System.