Outpatient Infusion Team
December 2018
Outpatient
Team
Salinas Valley Memorial Hospital
Salinas
,
CA
United States
Marilyn Barriger, RN, Mary Ann Artuz, RN, Tracey L’Hommedieu, RN, OCN, CRNI, Leslie Souza, RN, Elizabeth Baxter, RN, Teresa Salah, RN, BSN, OCN, Melissa Ortiz, RN, Elena Hermosillo, RN, Kelly Daun, RN, Michelle Roberts-Reyes, RN, and Glorinda Pastorius, RN, MSN, CCRN
The DAISY Award nomination specifically recognized the team's efforts to make patients feel comfortable and also help celebrate milestones. One Infusion Department tradition is surprising the patient on their last day of chemotherapy with a cupcake, a handmade crown and a sign that reads: "Last Chemo, I am awesome!" The patient receives a group photo of the celebration.
"It's very emotional," says Tracey L'Hommedieu, RN. "The patients come at the beginning of their journey and they're crying, they feel worried they can't make it through. They're worried they will lose their hair and when they're done, they're crying because they made it through chemotherapy treatment. We become very close to our patients."
"The Outpatient Infusion Team is remarkable," says the Chief Nursing Officer. "These nurses have proven success in navigating a complex clinical environment. Their nursing practice is of utmost importance to protect this vulnerable patient population who are receiving medications with potentially serious side effects and health risks. I commend this group of nurses who demonstrate professional nursing practice, consistently display a high level of emotional intelligence, critical thinking, and technical skills."
"It's very emotional," says Tracey L'Hommedieu, RN. "The patients come at the beginning of their journey and they're crying, they feel worried they can't make it through. They're worried they will lose their hair and when they're done, they're crying because they made it through chemotherapy treatment. We become very close to our patients."
"The Outpatient Infusion Team is remarkable," says the Chief Nursing Officer. "These nurses have proven success in navigating a complex clinical environment. Their nursing practice is of utmost importance to protect this vulnerable patient population who are receiving medications with potentially serious side effects and health risks. I commend this group of nurses who demonstrate professional nursing practice, consistently display a high level of emotional intelligence, critical thinking, and technical skills."