Claudia Millan models compassionate care in every interaction with her patients. The ability to have a patient and family feel that they are the only people in the room is exactly what compassionate care is all about and Claudia does this with ease. In a letter from a former patient's husband about Ms. Millan that recently came to me, she was described as follows: "Her smile and warmth help establish trust right away with her patients and their families. Whether she is caring for a patient or in answering a question from a spouse or loved one, she makes everyone feel like she is there just for them. Smilow Trumbull is an extremely busy practice and Claudia's ability to listen and respond effectively to patient and family needs is a tremendous asset."
As I was sitting in the midst of completing this nomination I was interrupted and asked to talk to the patient who was looking to speak with the manager. Our conversation could not have been more timely and solidified why I am writing this nomination. While we were talking about several things the patient shared a story of a single moment with a nurse, Claudia, that changed her experience. She told me that a year ago when she started treatment she remembers commenting on the beautiful warm scarf Claudia wore into work that day. Several minutes later she remembers telling Claudia how cold she felt in the treatment area that day despite the warm blankets. Before she knew it, Claudia had wrapped her own personal scarf around the patient to keep her warm and at the end of the day when she went to return it to Claudia, she was told please keep it you loved it and you needed it today. The patient described this moment with tears in her eyes stating that is the type of compassionate care that got her through her most difficult days.
There are so many times that Claudia has impacted her patients and their families. She also builds a rapport and trust with her patients that is unparalleled. A patient family member described that when his wife first started treatment everything was so new and much of it scary. He wrote, "I remember Claudia confidently accessing my wife's port for the first time, calmly explaining everything she was doing and inviting my wife to breathe deeply with her as she connected the line. I watched them repeat that exercise almost 20 times during the year and it became more than a clinical process - it was a biweekly renewal of their trust and affection for each other." This seemingly simple act of mindful breathing and mediation had made such a significant impact on this patient and her husband.
Claudia Millan is more than just an outstanding and compassionate nurse. She has been described by one of her patients as "an exceptional teammate, always ready to meet and exceed standards of patient safety and service. She moves effortlessly to cross-check on meds, silence noisy monitors or point a family member to the coffee station." She constantly goes above and beyond to be involved with more than just her assigned patients. In the midst of her busy daily schedule she finds time to organize supplies, engage staff in new initiatives, precept new staff, and work on community service events such as the Closer to Free Bike Ride. She is a true DAISY Nurse.