There isn't just one situation or story that demonstrations how Kayla makes a meaningful difference at Parkridge - that's because she shows daily her compassion towards staff, family members and, most definitely, patients. She puts her patients first, often times cutting her lunch break short, working later than expected and picking up extra shifts are all ways in which she shows dedication to her nursing profession.
Most recently, Kayla had been the primary patient for two young male patients. Both were newly diagnosed with chronic illnesses that have no cure. I had the opportunity to discharge these patients and during this process, both of these patients remarked how Kayla treated them as individuals and not an illness. One was a new diabetic. Kayla made him feel empowered and ready to make the new lifestyle changes that were necessary for managing his diabetes. The other patient was a newly diagnosed HIV patient. Kayla was the nurse that stood by him as he went through the stages of discovering his new diagnosis, from denial, anger, and acceptance - she made him realize that his life still served a purpose, that people still care and love him, and there are support groups available to him to ensure he is not alone in this fight. Both of these men could have gone down a road of depression, but Kayla gave them hope and kept them optimistic about the new challenges they would face. The DAISY Award is just a small token of showing the appreciation for this compassionate and humble nurse. She is most deserving!