Karla always has a positive attitude. She easily builds rapport with patients and the staff she interacts with. Karla always has the "can do it" attitude. If she has never done it before, she knows how to find her resources or information and figures it out. The same occurs when staff asks her and she doesn't know the answer, she will tell the staff "Let's figure it out together." She makes the staff/new hires/new grads all feel comfortable to approach her anytime if they need help or have questions. Karla started in 5C as a student nurse, became HUA, Charge nurse, and now AUM II. She always offers help and assists her staff from SN to HUA. She's been there before and she knows exactly how to help them how to do it better. Karla never says no when given a task or extra responsibility.
Last week we were given a new assignment to take over 3 North as a new MS overflow unit which includes staffing responsibilities. Opening another unit with short staffing hospital-wide is already a big problem itself, but she deals with it one day at a time. Calling other units to see if they have extra staff and texting the PDs if they can come to work in 3N. Due to the surge, there are always only 2 nurses assigned for 10 patients in 3N. During the day, she always checks on them and stays there most of the time to help. She also helps turn and cleans patients. You see Karla busy all the time and doing different things but she never complains and she will do the same thing again the following day.
Last week a patient needed help with her disability and it caused her stress because she could not move. Karla helped her fax all her paperwork that her job requested and followed up with Dr. notes, even if it meant having to go wherever they were to get the note done and signed. Karla notified the social worker and the social worker was also involved right away to expedite the process. With Karla's persistence and constant follow-ups, the patient's disability application was initiated right away and finalized it in one week. The patient was discharged to Rehab on a weekend and when Karla came to work on Monday the patient called her. The patient was so thankful for Karla's help and persistence in completing her disability papers. She was in tears when she called Karla and thanked her and told her that if she had not helped her push the paperwork through, her family would not have had the money for food. Karla said, "I felt so honored to have such a positive impact on somebody's life and be able to help her."
Every day when Karla does her leader rounding and patients verbalize concerns, Karla will take care of it right away and it does not matter what it takes. She will work on it until she gets the help needed. She is persistent and always has a "can do it attitude" and never stops. I see her every day helping others and I hear positive feedback from the patients and staff. Karla's dedication, positive attitude, and perseverance make her an outstanding leader.