Kaiser Permanente-Fresno is honored to recognize Rhonda Sgro, RN as a DAISY recipient. Rhonda has been an Emergency Department nurse at Kaiser Permanente in Fresno since 2006. She has always worked as an Emergency Department nurse, even before moving to Fresno, except for 18 months when she worked as a Telemetry nurse. Rhonda received numerous nominations, all from co-workers who value her commitment to patient care and to teamwork. As a "break nurse" working the 11 a.m. to 7 p.m. shift, she covers the entire ED, spelling other nurses on two shifts when they take their breaks. That means she is in every patient room, multiple times, talking with patients and their families.
Just before the DAISY Award presentation, she came from the room of a cancer patient in whose name she participated in a marathon.
"I love the ED. I like being the one who helps when someone comes into the ED in an acute state. I like being the one that helps to settle their fears" by speaking with a calm voice and holding their hand,” Rhonda says. "I explain to the family and the patient what we're doing. One of the things that tends to calm them the most is holding their hand."
Rhonda said she does not come from a family of nurses, but she always knew she wanted to be a nurse. "I like instant gratification and being a nurse gives me that. I tend to be a nurturer, which I guess most nurses are. I just always knew I would be a nurse."
"Rhonda will always throw herself into the thick of the busiest situations. Nobody is more qualified or more compassionate when it comes to patient care. Cancer patients have a special place in Rhonda's care, as she volunteers to offer care both on duty and off duty," said one nomination.
Another said, "Rhonda continuously sets the standard for what teamwork should look like. She's always eager to help out anyone and never complains about it."