Jodie Jones
October 2023
Jodie
Jones
,
BSN, RN
CA5 ICU
The University of Kansas Health System
Kansas City
,
KS
United States
During the hardest days toward the end, Jodie was meant to be our nurse. She was SO patient, incredibly knowledgeable, compassionate, empathetic, hard-working, and the most caring nurse I have ever experienced.
My mother was admitted to KU after she suffered a massive stroke and was placed in the Neuro ICU, in the Cambridge Tower. To speak generally, the entire med staff was phenomenal, but there was one specific nurse who was an absolute blessing during our very difficult stay. Jodie was my mother's nurse for the last 3 days of Mom's life. We eventually decided upon comfort care, and my mother passed peacefully, shortly after.
Admittedly, our family was a lot to handle. I am sure I was a lot to handle. We have several members of the family that are involved in medicine/ healthcare, so we came with a LOT of questions, concerns, emotions, observations, you name it. My mother also had someone staying with her 24/7, so the extra pressures of being 'on' or monitored, we understand can be taxing to undergo each day, not to mention for consecutive 12-hour shifts. The 7 day stay, to summarize, was a roller coaster. But during the hardest days toward the end, Jodie was meant to be our nurse. She was SO patient, incredibly knowledgeable, compassionate, empathetic, hard-working, and the most caring nurse I have ever experienced. When emotions were running high, Jodie offered listening ears. When we asked detailed questions, Jodie took the time to review labs, tests, orders, etc. When we had worries another stroke was occurring, her expertise and very exquisite monitoring and communication with the doctors got the ball rolling when it needed to be moving.
I just cannot say enough about how phenomenal Jodie is, and was, for our family and my mother. When we were tearful, she took the time to actively listen. When laymen's terms were needed, she described things exceptionally well for all family members to understand the (overwhelming) situation. When new orders were placed, she was prompt to carry them through.
Not only did she take exceptional care of Mom, but she also took outstanding care of our family. She checked in on us as much as she checked in on her patient. We also noticed the small things like speaking to Mom and treating her with utmost respect & dignity, fluffing her pillows, or thoughtfully placing her personal blanket back on her after she turned Mom every 2 hours. It was the smallest gestures that make our gratitude the greatest.
Our gratitude is infinite to Jodie. What makes her exceptional and most deserving of the DAISY Award is that she exemplifies to a "T" what the DAISY Award is all about, her compassion was palpable, her patience and understanding were so very calming, and her knowledge and expertise were elite. She is the textbook nurse we all pray and hope for, especially when you are enduring the worst week of your life.
As mom passed, we played James Taylor's music (her favorite) and sang to her. Jodie allowed Mom to be surrounded by the people she loved most, with the things she loved most-- music & family. Jodie cried with us in the end. We felt she truly understood how much Mom meant to every one of us. She gave us all the time we needed to say goodbye. It was everything we could have asked for in that situation.
I can think of no better individual, nurse, or human being that is more deserving. To her core, she represents nurses to an exemplary standard, and she represents everything that a DAISY Nurse should be. Each time we see the words "DAISY Award", we think of Jodie. To describe her as 'deserving' is an understatement. She is a nurse of outstanding merit in an ICU that needs people like Jodie, so crucially. She has earned this award; there is no hesitation. Jodie, at our most fragile moments, you held us together. At our scariest moments, you gave us the courage to stand and endure.
At our most overwhelming moments, you helped slow down the fast-paced world to allow us to process and unpack. At our saddest moments, you cried with us. At our most vulnerable moments, you kept us safe.
THANK YOU for being you, for everything that you did for us, and for taking such special, exceptional care of the most important person to us--my Mom. We were undeserving of you, but you are most deserving of this award.
Admittedly, our family was a lot to handle. I am sure I was a lot to handle. We have several members of the family that are involved in medicine/ healthcare, so we came with a LOT of questions, concerns, emotions, observations, you name it. My mother also had someone staying with her 24/7, so the extra pressures of being 'on' or monitored, we understand can be taxing to undergo each day, not to mention for consecutive 12-hour shifts. The 7 day stay, to summarize, was a roller coaster. But during the hardest days toward the end, Jodie was meant to be our nurse. She was SO patient, incredibly knowledgeable, compassionate, empathetic, hard-working, and the most caring nurse I have ever experienced. When emotions were running high, Jodie offered listening ears. When we asked detailed questions, Jodie took the time to review labs, tests, orders, etc. When we had worries another stroke was occurring, her expertise and very exquisite monitoring and communication with the doctors got the ball rolling when it needed to be moving.
I just cannot say enough about how phenomenal Jodie is, and was, for our family and my mother. When we were tearful, she took the time to actively listen. When laymen's terms were needed, she described things exceptionally well for all family members to understand the (overwhelming) situation. When new orders were placed, she was prompt to carry them through.
Not only did she take exceptional care of Mom, but she also took outstanding care of our family. She checked in on us as much as she checked in on her patient. We also noticed the small things like speaking to Mom and treating her with utmost respect & dignity, fluffing her pillows, or thoughtfully placing her personal blanket back on her after she turned Mom every 2 hours. It was the smallest gestures that make our gratitude the greatest.
Our gratitude is infinite to Jodie. What makes her exceptional and most deserving of the DAISY Award is that she exemplifies to a "T" what the DAISY Award is all about, her compassion was palpable, her patience and understanding were so very calming, and her knowledge and expertise were elite. She is the textbook nurse we all pray and hope for, especially when you are enduring the worst week of your life.
As mom passed, we played James Taylor's music (her favorite) and sang to her. Jodie allowed Mom to be surrounded by the people she loved most, with the things she loved most-- music & family. Jodie cried with us in the end. We felt she truly understood how much Mom meant to every one of us. She gave us all the time we needed to say goodbye. It was everything we could have asked for in that situation.
I can think of no better individual, nurse, or human being that is more deserving. To her core, she represents nurses to an exemplary standard, and she represents everything that a DAISY Nurse should be. Each time we see the words "DAISY Award", we think of Jodie. To describe her as 'deserving' is an understatement. She is a nurse of outstanding merit in an ICU that needs people like Jodie, so crucially. She has earned this award; there is no hesitation. Jodie, at our most fragile moments, you held us together. At our scariest moments, you gave us the courage to stand and endure.
At our most overwhelming moments, you helped slow down the fast-paced world to allow us to process and unpack. At our saddest moments, you cried with us. At our most vulnerable moments, you kept us safe.
THANK YOU for being you, for everything that you did for us, and for taking such special, exceptional care of the most important person to us--my Mom. We were undeserving of you, but you are most deserving of this award.