Jennifer Downing
August 2022
Jennifer
Downing
,
BSN, RN IV, CMSRN
FirstHealth Moore Regional Hospital
Pinehurst
,
NC
United States
Jennifer taught me to be the patient advocate that I am today and I pray to always be. She always ensures that the patient is put first no matter what the situation is, even if it means putting herself second.
From the first day I met Jennifer, her knowledge and charisma empowered me. Jennifer was assigned to be my nursing preceptor and I could not be any more thankful. From our first shift together, she took me under her wing and made me feel as if I had known her my whole life (she also has a way to do so with patients). Every question I had, she answered and ensured she had a policy to back it up, which is so important when just starting out with an organization. I will carry the knowledge she instilled in me with me throughout my entire nursing career.
The first patient I lost, Jennifer, was by my side the entire time. Because it was a covid patient and the family wasn't able to make it to see her, she was with me in the room helping provide care but most of all she ensured our patient knew they were not alone. She could have easily let me figure out how to deal with the situation on my own, but she was my backbone and my support with any question I had.
Jennifer taught me to be the patient advocate that I am today and I pray to always be. She always ensures that the patient is put first no matter what the situation is, even if it means putting herself second. When Jennifer is Charge Nurse (and even when she's not), she ensures we have everything we need to have a smooth moving shift. She is by our side when a patient is deteriorating, she is in patients' rooms taking them to the bathroom, she is assisting our techs with vitals when we are short-staffed, she's helping pass a medication while we are hanging blood, and she's always an open book for resources.
These are all good qualities that make her amazing at her job and such a joy to work with. Jennifer starts her morning off with a smile and ends with a smile. She shows her patients love, respect, and compassion. She is humble and always hungry to learn more in our profession. She has reached level 4 in the clinical ladder, which is a huge asset to our organization. We are all lucky to work with her. She will always be a nurse of the year in my eyes and in the eyes of her patients.
The first patient I lost, Jennifer, was by my side the entire time. Because it was a covid patient and the family wasn't able to make it to see her, she was with me in the room helping provide care but most of all she ensured our patient knew they were not alone. She could have easily let me figure out how to deal with the situation on my own, but she was my backbone and my support with any question I had.
Jennifer taught me to be the patient advocate that I am today and I pray to always be. She always ensures that the patient is put first no matter what the situation is, even if it means putting herself second. When Jennifer is Charge Nurse (and even when she's not), she ensures we have everything we need to have a smooth moving shift. She is by our side when a patient is deteriorating, she is in patients' rooms taking them to the bathroom, she is assisting our techs with vitals when we are short-staffed, she's helping pass a medication while we are hanging blood, and she's always an open book for resources.
These are all good qualities that make her amazing at her job and such a joy to work with. Jennifer starts her morning off with a smile and ends with a smile. She shows her patients love, respect, and compassion. She is humble and always hungry to learn more in our profession. She has reached level 4 in the clinical ladder, which is a huge asset to our organization. We are all lucky to work with her. She will always be a nurse of the year in my eyes and in the eyes of her patients.