Tina is extremely present at the bedside. She has a true connection with her patients. Patients and staff have repeatedly spoken on her behalf as a nurse who has incredibly thorough assessment skills really taking the time to listen to what the patients are saying and how they are feeling, she allows them to be an active part of their plan of care so they have a better understanding of how to recover quickly and safely.

Tina is reassuring, encouraging and allows the patient to feel safe in her care, so that they can focus on covering. She advocates daily to the leaders when she feels like there’s a barrier to any of her patients road to successful and excellent experience in the hospital, although there are so many heartfelt stories to share about Tina and her great nursing care one in particular comes to mind.

There was a patient that was admitted for abdominal pain. This pain progressively got worse throughout her stay at the hospital. Tina was really concerned and had that nursing intuition that this could be much more emergent than even her doctors believed it to be she paid and then proceeded to call the surgical team to no avail, Tina advocated to the charge nurse (as there was no AMN on duty at the moment) and further escalated to the house supervisor because she was really concerned for the safety of the patient.

Tina handed off to the incoming shift but felt uneasy about going home. She assured the patient that they were going to do everything possible to get her re-evaluated by the doctor. Again she spoke to the house supervisor before leaving for home. The house supervisor was able to get in touch with the surgeon and asked that they return to the hospital to check on the patient. Sure enough the patient was sent to the OR for emergency surgery. The patient was found to have in ischemic bowel that could have been life threatening. Because of her due diligence, Tina played a huge part in the safety of this patient and possibly saving her life. When I told Tina the next day that the patient was recovering and doing much better, she smiled the biggest smile and let out a huge sigh of relief she said “I was so worried about her, and I hated leaving everyone, including the oncoming nurse in such a panic state. I just wanted to make sure everyone was okay.”

Tina wasn’t looking for recognition. She was just doing what she does daily, which is being the best nurse that she knows how to be and cares to be. She is very deserving of this recognition but even without it she will continue to shine, day in and day out.