Rhonda Sawyer
September 2015
Rhonda
Sawyer
,
RN
Cardiac Rehab
Frye Regional Medical Center
Hickory
,
NC
United States
Rhonda Sawyer has been employed by FRMC since May 16, 1994. She has been a Cardiac Rehab nurse for over 16 of those years during her tenure at FRMC. At least weekly, I receive feedback on Rhonda from her patients on her kind, caring attitude, her clinical expertise and compassion, and how that has impacted them personally and their overall healing process. Her patients have told me how much they look forward to her coming to their cardiac rehab therapy to see Rhonda. They have told me numerous times they consider her family. Rhonda spearheads patient reunions and other cardiac rehab patient and family gatherings.
A couple of years ago, during a leadership change in Cardiac Rehab, Rhonda was asked to take on the role of charge nurse-lead of this department and she did. She led her department through a very intense Cardiac Rehab survey, resulting in revamping forms, changing processes, conducting audits, to ensure that the standards were being met and sustained. Her efforts resulted in 100% compliance and she has led her department to consistently maintain these standards.
About two weeks ago, her father took a turn for the worse and was placed in a hospice facility. While watching over her father, her mother passed away from complications from Parkinson's and three days later, her father died.
Last evening in the funeral home, as she introduced her husband and teenage daughter, she said with a smile and this is the newest addition to our family. Standing beside their daughter, was a tall, thin, blond haired teenage girl that Rhonda and her family took in last week. The high school principal called them and asked if they would embrace this child whose family had abandoned her, and of course, in her spirit of caring and giving to others, she and her family have welcomed this child into their home with loving and open hearts.
It struck me last evening that a caring and giving spirit to her patients and everyone around her, her faith, her smile and gracious attitude, and her undying perseverance in the face of disparity is what makes her a true DAISY Nurse.
Rhonda is an outstanding role model for our nursing community and our community in general.
A couple of years ago, during a leadership change in Cardiac Rehab, Rhonda was asked to take on the role of charge nurse-lead of this department and she did. She led her department through a very intense Cardiac Rehab survey, resulting in revamping forms, changing processes, conducting audits, to ensure that the standards were being met and sustained. Her efforts resulted in 100% compliance and she has led her department to consistently maintain these standards.
About two weeks ago, her father took a turn for the worse and was placed in a hospice facility. While watching over her father, her mother passed away from complications from Parkinson's and three days later, her father died.
Last evening in the funeral home, as she introduced her husband and teenage daughter, she said with a smile and this is the newest addition to our family. Standing beside their daughter, was a tall, thin, blond haired teenage girl that Rhonda and her family took in last week. The high school principal called them and asked if they would embrace this child whose family had abandoned her, and of course, in her spirit of caring and giving to others, she and her family have welcomed this child into their home with loving and open hearts.
It struck me last evening that a caring and giving spirit to her patients and everyone around her, her faith, her smile and gracious attitude, and her undying perseverance in the face of disparity is what makes her a true DAISY Nurse.
Rhonda is an outstanding role model for our nursing community and our community in general.