We've been visiting Maria for infusions since last spring. Our little boy has a chronic medical condition that requires frequent labs drawn from his port, as well as iron infusions. Maria makes our monthly infusion clinic appointments so enjoyable!
She's very considerate of our son's experience, and how a lifetime of hospital visits will affect him. She prioritizes limiting his pain and using excellent sterile technique. She has even gone out of her way to make sure she provides supplies that help the procedure be more tolerable. Things like specific dressings that work with his sensitive skin, adhesive remover spray to help the removal of the dressing be painless, and making sure we have lidocaine cream to reduce the pain of the access. She knows he deals with more pain than any child should, and that is of great concern to her.
Our son adores Maria, and he reaches for her as soon as he spots her, even though she is the one sticking him with that huge needle. His reaction to her is a result of her loving nature and excellent patient care. We feel that she truly cares for our son and strives to make his frequent hospital visits as enjoyable as possible. Thank you, Maria! We love you!
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I would like to recognize the incredible nursing consistently performed by Maria Gurreri RNC. Her dedication to the Pediatric Unit, in-depth nursing knowledge, willingness to be a team member and outstanding bedside manner are unsurpassed.
On the Community Medical Center Pediatric/PICU Unit, the RNs care for our most vulnerable pediatric population. Pediatric/PICU Nursing requires knowledge of evidenced-based nursing practice and a heart that understands the complexity of both the medical and emotional needs of children and their families. Maria is a seasoned Peds/PICU nurse who surpasses the compassion and skill normally considered with standard pediatric nursing care. While all our Peds/PICU nurses are dedicated to their job, this nurse stands out. She has worked for our unit for over 20 years.
I have worked side by side with Maria since 1997 on the CMC Pediatrics Unit. Maria's can-do demeanor and ability to empathize with families, patients and coworkers is appreciated by all who work beside her.
Her Peds/PICU skills are excellent, and she has been a mentor for many of us over the years. She genuinely loves what she does and it shows through her enthusiasm to educate others in a way that makes them feel accomplished and competent.
I have had the privilege to stand shoulder to shoulder with Maria, during many emergency situations. I've watched in amazement at her calm, take charge, professional demeanor as she guides the team.
No matter the emergency, she always takes our patients and their families into consideration, informing them of the current situation, comforting them; all the while ensuring the best possible care is being given.
Maria unselfishly gives her time. Any time a nurse on the floor needs assistance with a difficult situation or even just to place an IV, Maria is there without complaint and with a willingness to help.
Maria continuously challenges me to improve my nursing skills by stepping out of my comfort zone. Many years ago, she noticed I never tried to use a saphenous vein for pediatric IV starts. She encouraged me to spend a year trying to access a saphenous vein first if indicated. Now I am a fairly good saphenous IV starter. I smile and silently thank her every time I access one.
Maria is a positive role model through her clinical skills. I have so many memories of her showing me chest tube drainage collection systems; ART line and CVP setups, intubation/extubation tips and many other PICU tasks, all the while explaining the rationales for our nursing and medical interventions.
Where Maria is recently shining is as the Infusion Nurse Coordinator for the Pediatric Infusion Program. Under her direction and care, the program has more than tripled in size since 2014. More importantly, her patients in the infusion program just adore her and are so happy with the personal care they receive from her. Maria maintains a personal connection with each family and ensures their care is coordinated precisely with the Peds medical staff, the patients referring medical staff and their families. Her empathy and compassion come through from admit to follow-up care.
Infusion patients look forward to her fun personality. They know they can count on her to be precise, caring and have all the creature comforts she can muster ready for them. She knows T needs his special pillow bed and G is going to want chicken strips right away. She also knows that R's port is best accessed from the sitting position and that D must have all of his PRN pre-meds to prevent a reaction. It is these small touches that make such a difference.
The reason this program is thriving is because of Maria!
Maria is compassionate and engaged in her patients' care and the overall care our unit provides to our community. Every shift, she reminds me of the importance of "seeing the patient" stepping back and remembering why I am truly here. Her inspiring attitude lights up our unit and makes it a better place to work. That is why Maria is a DAISY Nurse.