Joan Peterson
September 2021
Joan
Peterson
,
MSN, RN
Nephrology Surgical
Swedish Medical Center - First Hill
Seattle
,
WA
United States
You can tell that Joan does this because compassion and dignity are in her heart and so is her love to take care of others.
I have been hospitalized at Swedish many times in the last year for multiple surgeries and it has allowed me to experience 3 different floors of rooms/nurses/CNAs. While each floor has taken care of me, only the 11th floor has taken amazing care of me. I want to specifically nominate Joan Peterson (the nurse manager). I felt compelled to recognize all of her hard work, as her team wouldn't be who they are without her and her leadership. You wouldn't think that you would have much interaction (as a patient) with administrative staff/management, but Joan is different. She may have a managerial title, but she works tirelessly and with integrity in her role also as a nurse. Joan has jumped in to help her front desk, her nurses, and even the janitorial staff. When something needs to get done, she just does it as if it's in her DNA.
Recently, she had come into my room, while my IV was alarming to help me. She asked me (with true curiosity and compassion) how I was feeling and while she got my alarm settled and me tucked back into bed, we had the best conversation. Little did I know she was also, clearing out the urine hat in my bathroom, picking up the room, detangling my IV tubes, and making sure everything was running safely. You can tell that Joan does this because compassion and dignity are in her heart and so is her love to take care of others.
She is an example to her nurses and as a result, every single one of the RNs and CNAs I had (my stay has been for almost 6 weeks) have been just as kind, considerate, caring, and knowledgeable as Joan. She leads with such grace and humility that she gives you the feeling that you (the patient) are a part of this 11th-floor family and they will be taking care of you as if you were one of their own family members. I have never in all my hospital stays had a nurse manager who (daily) takes the time to see how her patients and coworkers are doing. And she does this with a positive outlook and attitude that has a significant impact on the morale and mental health of her team. It almost seems that the 11th floor has the 'brand' of working hard while being kind and achieving excellence. That charter reminds me that these qualities are not mutually exclusive, and this team exemplifies it on a daily basis because of their leader's example. I am eternally grateful for the care I have received here on the 11th floor and I cannot thank Joan and her team enough!
Recently, she had come into my room, while my IV was alarming to help me. She asked me (with true curiosity and compassion) how I was feeling and while she got my alarm settled and me tucked back into bed, we had the best conversation. Little did I know she was also, clearing out the urine hat in my bathroom, picking up the room, detangling my IV tubes, and making sure everything was running safely. You can tell that Joan does this because compassion and dignity are in her heart and so is her love to take care of others.
She is an example to her nurses and as a result, every single one of the RNs and CNAs I had (my stay has been for almost 6 weeks) have been just as kind, considerate, caring, and knowledgeable as Joan. She leads with such grace and humility that she gives you the feeling that you (the patient) are a part of this 11th-floor family and they will be taking care of you as if you were one of their own family members. I have never in all my hospital stays had a nurse manager who (daily) takes the time to see how her patients and coworkers are doing. And she does this with a positive outlook and attitude that has a significant impact on the morale and mental health of her team. It almost seems that the 11th floor has the 'brand' of working hard while being kind and achieving excellence. That charter reminds me that these qualities are not mutually exclusive, and this team exemplifies it on a daily basis because of their leader's example. I am eternally grateful for the care I have received here on the 11th floor and I cannot thank Joan and her team enough!