Oncology Clinic Team
May 2019
Oncology Clinic at
Beverly Hospital
Beverly Hospital
Beverly
,
MA
United States
Karin Leppanen, RN, MS, OCN, (Nurse Manager);
Sandra Brown, RN, OCN, (RN Team Leader);
Judy Wells, RN, OCN, (RN Team Leader);
Heather Koufos, RN, OCN;
Erin Parker, RN, OCN;
Rhonda Kesterson, RN;
Jamie Lucas, RN;
Jadzia Roberts, RN;
Kristen Coughlin, RN;
Rachel Joy, RN, OCN;
Kelly Cusolito, RN
Sandra Brown, RN, OCN, (RN Team Leader);
Judy Wells, RN, OCN, (RN Team Leader);
Heather Koufos, RN, OCN;
Erin Parker, RN, OCN;
Rhonda Kesterson, RN;
Jamie Lucas, RN;
Jadzia Roberts, RN;
Kristen Coughlin, RN;
Rachel Joy, RN, OCN;
Kelly Cusolito, RN
This year's DAISY Team Award - an honor that recognizes the respect and compassion with which nursing team members care for their patients, the community and each other - was presented to the Oncology Clinic nursing team at a special presentation during Nurses Week. The team was nominated on behalf of a patient who passed away last fall.
Diagnosed with a terminal illness with a life expectancy of only two weeks to two months, the patient began getting weekly blood transfusions in the Oncology Clinic. His daughter accompanied him at every visit. "Each dedicated oncology nurse addressed my dad's needs in a heartfelt manner, which allowed him to enjoy his life with dignity and pride," she said. "Every nurse played a significant role on this remarkable team."
The patient's daughter gave numerous examples of how the nurses' relationships with her father quickly grew to become both professional and personal. He took the time to get to know them all and enjoyed sharing the details of his week and listening to theirs. On learning their patient had recently published his autobiography, the nurses did a Google search, found television commercials he had done, and watched them with him during one of his treatments. Knowing that the hospital's chicken soup was a favorite, they always made sure it was there for him. "These were immeasurable gifts that we will never forget," said the nominator.
The family also expressed gratitude for the nurses' thoughtfulness following his treatment sessions. They always escorted the patient back to the car and called the family at home after every treatment. "Always remarkable," the nominator said, noting that the nurse manager called even after the patient passed - six and a half months after his diagnosis.
"One day when leaving the hospital, my dad asked me what special thing could he do to recognize his champion team that continuously rallied on his behalf," the daughter said. "I told him that in the spring, Beverly Hospital had the Team DAISY Award and I explained it to him. He said, 'In the spring, we must nominate the Beverly Hospital Oncology nurses. They have made such a profound and significant difference in my life. They are my angels.'"
Diagnosed with a terminal illness with a life expectancy of only two weeks to two months, the patient began getting weekly blood transfusions in the Oncology Clinic. His daughter accompanied him at every visit. "Each dedicated oncology nurse addressed my dad's needs in a heartfelt manner, which allowed him to enjoy his life with dignity and pride," she said. "Every nurse played a significant role on this remarkable team."
The patient's daughter gave numerous examples of how the nurses' relationships with her father quickly grew to become both professional and personal. He took the time to get to know them all and enjoyed sharing the details of his week and listening to theirs. On learning their patient had recently published his autobiography, the nurses did a Google search, found television commercials he had done, and watched them with him during one of his treatments. Knowing that the hospital's chicken soup was a favorite, they always made sure it was there for him. "These were immeasurable gifts that we will never forget," said the nominator.
The family also expressed gratitude for the nurses' thoughtfulness following his treatment sessions. They always escorted the patient back to the car and called the family at home after every treatment. "Always remarkable," the nominator said, noting that the nurse manager called even after the patient passed - six and a half months after his diagnosis.
"One day when leaving the hospital, my dad asked me what special thing could he do to recognize his champion team that continuously rallied on his behalf," the daughter said. "I told him that in the spring, Beverly Hospital had the Team DAISY Award and I explained it to him. He said, 'In the spring, we must nominate the Beverly Hospital Oncology nurses. They have made such a profound and significant difference in my life. They are my angels.'"