"It is difficult for me to pinpoint my favorite thing about direct care, but I will try. I would have to say it is the opportunity to make a difference in the lives of families whom are facing extremely difficult times. I have been a nurse for almost twenty-two years and I only recently started thinking about how long I have been a direct care nurse, because I have enjoyed every bit of it. I promised myself that when I no longer enjoyed direct care I would step away because it is so important for nurses to be engaged and love what they are doing. After so many years, I still love caring for patients at the bedside. I am driven by my desire to meet the wishes of my patients as much as possible. As long as a request is not unsafe I find a way to grant it. I believe patients and their families are dependent on us to meet their needs and we should do everything in our powers to do so. I love caring for others, instilling hope, and just being there for others who are experiencing difficulty. I came to the VA and fell in love with our veterans and really find pleasure caring for those who have sacrificed so much. In some small way, I believe I am giving back to them. Nursing is not just a profession for me, it's a passion."
-Sherese West, BSN, RN
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Sherese is a valuable and engaged member of the Inpatient Telemetry Unit where she also participates in Shared Governance, serves as a clinical alarms monitor and participative scheduling committee member, and also is a Leaders Developing Leaders program facilitator. In addition to her duties as a RN on the Inpatient Telemetry Unit, Sherese is a Nurse Corp. officer in the Navy Reserve. She also dedicates time to pursuing her Master's degree in Nursing Education. Despite this packed schedule, Sherese ensures time for the things she enjoys such as gardening, designing her own landscape, visiting the beach, listening to music, sight-seeing and lots of walking on her days off. Her DAISY Award nomination was submitted by the family member of a veteran she cared for. The veteran's daughter wrote, "She attended to my father in a direct caring manner with good humor. Sherese was always having a lot of joy and caring in her heart. She truly is a great caregiver and deserves to be commended for her carrying out of duties with respect to our veterans."