Congratulations to Regina Myers, BSN, RN and Paul Tarantino, RN of the Jefferson Infusion Center whose actions helped a leukemia patient and earned them a DAISY Award for Extraordinary nurses.

The patient arrived at the Infusion Center on our Center City campus later in the day for a platelet transfusion. She was a late add-on to the schedule. The patient experienced a reaction during the transfusion that took time to resolve. As a result, the patient missed the last bus to return to her home in northeastern Pennsylvania. And because it was already nearly 7 PM most of the infusion center staff - including the outpatient social workers - had gone home for the day. Myers and Tarantino were the remaining nurses at the infusion center.

"Since the patient was alone and unfamiliar with the area, not to mention the fact that her low platelet count made her at risk for bleeding, the nurses headed out onto the city streets and accompanied the patient to a nearby hotel," the DAISY Award nominating letter explained.

When they arrived at the hotel, they learned there were no rooms available. The nurses remained with the patient, called other neighborhood hotels until they found one with a vacancy. The pair put a hold on the room and arranged for a shuttle to pick up the patient to take her to the hotel on Delaware Avenue.

While they waited with the patient, the nurses shared safety tips with the patient and educated her on the importance of hand washing. "These two nurses stayed with their patient well after their shift had ended to ensure their patient received the care that she needed," the nominator noted.

Thank you both for demonstrating what a huge difference nurses can make in the lives of our patients and true Jefferson values.