December 2018
Pamela
Gallaspy
,
RN
Neuro ICU
Ochsner Medical Center - New Orleans
New Orleans
,
LA
United States

 

 

 

Pamela "Claire" Gallaspy recently created the "sunshine committee" on the Neuro ICU. The mission is to increase engagement, retention, and brighten the day for our employees, patients, and family members. In her time as sunshine committee chair, she has initiated "pay it forward" type practices on our unit for things as simple as buying coffee for a random teammate, to bathing both patients of an unsuspecting team member while they are away at lunch. Claire is always coming up with creative ways to boost morale. She created the board on the unit with inspirational messages printed on post-it notes such as "you rock" and "be awesome." Our employees would wear them and give them to fellow teammates. She has since created a kudos board in the hallway that encourages our family members to "show some love." The board was completely covered with kudos within a week. Claire has also taken the role of decorating our unit and she does it for each holiday unprompted. She is quite the artist. Our Christmas decorations currently comprise of Charlie Brown and his peanuts companions as well as Dr. Seuss characters like the Grinch. In addition to our unit raising $600 for a holiday hope family (which was not enough for Claire) she spearheaded an effort to match that amount of giving for an additional family. This family is always present and so involved. This family is one of our long-term care patients. Claire is a very special person and a true DAISY Nurse.