Connie is an outstanding member of the team in the PICU. She is willing to do whatever is needed not only for the patients and families she cares for but for the staff members she works with. Connie is frequently placed in the resource role. Recently with high acuity and census, Connie was the first one to volunteer to be taken out of resource and take over care of a patient who was decompensating. During that same week when in the resource role she helped care for many patients and made sure all the nurses had the supplies and medications needed to safely care for their patients. Even last week when we were in a bed crunch and needed a room stat cleaned before an admission came. Connie helped the EVS staff clean the room to ensure it was ready for the patient. She embodies the core values of CCHMC and is someone all staff look forward to working with. She is a role model and teacher for new nurses.
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Connie advocates for the patients and families she cares for always going above and beyond to provide safe, effective, and holistic care to patients in the PICU. She takes the time to have conversations with patients and also talks to the families about questions or concerns they have. She involves family in daily care of their child when appropriate, realizing the importance of letting the family help in any way possible to get their child better.
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Connie is a preceptor in the PICU. She can care for any child and teaches new nurses as well. She takes the time to explain to families all aspects of their child's care. She goes over monitors, medications, tubes/drains, and bedside procedures. She always ends her conversation ensuring that families have understood what she has said and making sure to clarify any questions they have.
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Recently in the PICU Connie cared for a terminal patient. She was able to connect with the mother who had shut out most people who entered the room because of the overwhelming grief she was experiencing while losing her child. Connie was soft-spoken, empathetic, and patient with the mom. She showed the mom and her daughter compassion by the care she provided. The patient's mom warmed up to Connie and confided in her. Connie will forever be remembered by this patient's mom for not only the care she gave her daughter but for the care she provided a grieving mom as well.
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Connie is always explaining the plan of the day to families using terminology they can understand. She makes sure that before rounds conclude the families have asked questions they have and that they understand the plan moving forward. If they have questions throughout the day she takes the time to explain answers and if needed makes sure to have the doctor come back to explain aspects of the care to the family. She updates the whiteboard in the room as well as has real-time conversations to update the family as the day goes on.