Kelly Luna is described as an asset to the emergency department. She is seen as a friend, a person who is highly respected, and loved by her colleagues and patients.
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I have worked beside Kelly for seven years and I am proud to call her my friend and co-worker. There are many reasons why I believe Kelly is deserving of this award. There is not just one single encounter that sticks out in my mind because Kelly treats each patient with honor and dignity. She goes above and beyond to ensure she provides optimal care to each patient that she encounters. She flies low under the radar and rarely gets publicly recognized for the professionalism and compassion she displays to each patient. It is a rare trait to have a nurse who has practiced for 25 plus years and yet still possess such empathy and compassion for patients in the emergency room where praise and a simple thank you is rare.
Kelly wears many hats in our department. She is always fair, honest, and smart with superb clinical skills. She's able to coordinate a hectic emergency room while maintaining been even-tempered among her fellow co-workers and patients.
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Kelly is always taking care of her coworkers like they are her family. She always texts to check on us when we are sick or having issues. She always has an ear to listen and a shoulder to cry on when life gets bumpy. She is always there to answer questions and is super knowledgeable about everything you ask her. She is kind and caring to her patients. She goes above and beyond daily and you can tell she enjoys being a nurse. I hope one day I can be half the nurse she is.
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Over the last 10+ years working alongside Kelly, I have developed such a love and respect for her and her work ethic. Kelly is a wonderful person, nurse, friend, mother, and wife. She always puts everyone before herself and her own wants/needs. I've seen Kelly at the bedside, feel what her patients and their families are feeling. Her compassion and love for her patients are admirable in so many aspects.
I've seen her go above and beyond what she's required to do. From taking money out of her own purse to provide gas for family members to get to other facilities to be with their loved ones, to giving money to her fellow coworkers when they're in need. So many times, in our area, things could get done "just enough" or do "just what's required", but Kelly will do so much more to assure her patient is comfortable and taken care of. She's overlooked way more than she should be, she doesn't like attention, but I believe wholeheartedly she is a true DAISY Nurse!