Richard Greenhill
August 2017
Richard
Greenhill
,
RN
Transitional Care Unit
NCH Healthcare System
Naples
,
FL
United States

 

 

 

While its exact causes are unknown, what is known is that Crohn's Disease is a chronic, or ongoing, inflammatory bowel disease (IBD) that primarily affects the digestive or gastrointestinal (GI) tract.
This was the norm for Richard Greenhill when he decided to become a Registered Nurse leading him to a second career choice. Richard formally joined NCH in November 2015 to begin training as a Transitional Care Unit (TCU) Nurse.
While in orientation, it became evident that Richard would be a strong yet compassionate member of the TCU team. Officially, Richard began his night shift position in January 2016.
Fighting adversity was not new to Richard and he took on the new role as caregiver with enthusiasm. He soaked up all the new information and took full advantage of all opportunities provided to him as a new RN.
I recall one conversation with Richard about a new issue that he felt he had not anticipated and felt that he had failed a patient. He was so serious about the incident and took to heart the oath, "Do No Harm". I thanked him for his integrity and desire to learn from this small issue and to move on. That was Richard, always trying to be the best person and deliver the best care.
Richard also had a closeness with his team that is hard to put into words. The respect and love for his co-workers would serve him well as his illness became apparent. His team certainly rallied around him with each visit to the hospital.
Almost one full year from the time Richard embarked on his career, he was struck with Pancreatic Cancer. Richard was not a novice to illness, as he had fought Crohn's Disease for the majority of his life. This new-found illness became the biggest hurdle for him. I can attest that Richard faced the news given to him in January 2017 with dignity and courage. He and his beautiful wife took advice from the experts and followed up with everything that was recommended to them. Their goal was to overcome.
While I visited Richard on the multiple occasions when he came to stay in the hospital, I was amazed at what was on his mind and how he cared for the people he loved, which included his TCU team.
Richard was only concerned about his job and wanted desperately to return to nursing in TCU at NCH.
On July 12, 2017, Richard lost his battle with Cancer and TCU and NCH lost a beloved RN.
I am nominating Richard Greenhill as an Honorary DAISY recipient because he not only meets the criteria that the beautiful award recognizes, but also for Richard's courage, his love of nursing, his team and his family.
Knowing Richard has been one of the greatest honors of my career and I cannot imagine my life without having known him.
Thank you,
Cheryl Holderfield
***
Richard Greenhill was an employee in the TCU prior to him getting sick. He was a new Grad and had his 12-week orientation on 4E and then was able to come to TCU. He was one of the first new grads that was allowed in the TCU. He was calm and easy going. His thirst for knowledge and "why" we did things was admirable. He truly wanted to know why we needed to give Cardizem, what exactly is it going to do in the body? I know when I was his preceptor, he definitely kept me on my toes, which made me a better preceptor.
Knowledge was not the only good thing that Richard had going for him, his soft, caring touch to the patients was above that of a veteran nurse. He could calm a patient that was scared with his calm voice. Richard was a great nurse and had such a fight in him. He worked the night shift and I, mostly day shifts, so I got to hear all the wonderful things that he did just to make the patients love him! Unfortunately for us, he became sick. Even in his sickness, he dragged his IV pole to TCU to talk with us. He and his wife would buy the staff lunch and dinner. Mind you, he was the sick one, but that is how his heart was, he still wanted to take care of his coworkers. Then God decided to end his suffering, we are sad that he is gone from us here on Earth, but I know heaven received a beautiful nurse angel!
-Amy Yates BSN, RN, CVRN-BC
Note: Richard received his DAISY Award posthumously after losing his battle to cancer on July 12,2017