April 2013
Vernetta
Clark
,
RN, BSN
NICU - Intermediate ICU
Oakwood Hospital and Medical Center
Dearborn
,
MI
United States
Vernetta started with OHS in 2005 as a Registered Nurse. She joined Oakwood Staffing Solutions in 2009. Vernetta holds her Bachelor of Science in Nursing from Harding University, Arkansas. She is a member of AACN. Vernetta works primarily 3N/3S/3W and NICU.
The following was written through the DAISY nomination about Vernetta.
I would like to take this opportunity to nominate Vernetta Clark, RN for an Oakwood Daisy Award. I have been a nurse with Oakwood for over 17 years and have worked with many wonderful nurses. I never thought that I would be on the receiving end of patient and family centered care but unfortunately, I was in this situation last month and was impressed by the care we received from Vernetta.
In late January my husband was admitted to the hospital and this came as a complete and under shock to us. He was admitted to the critical care area which I have worked with many of the staff members in this area. As much as we like to help out our colleagues, it is sometimes difficult to take an assignment where you will be taking care of them!
Vernetta was assigned to my husband on his first day in the hospital. She approached BOTH OF US with calmness and compassion and addressed us as a friend/family. She explained everything in detail to my husband, even though I was sitting right there and could explain it to him as well, she didn't put this on me as a "nurse" of a patient -she treated me as a family member at that time. She definitely was a patient advocate by calling physicians and testing departments (MRI, CT, etc) to find out when they were going to be available and how long of a wait we may have. She always informed us of new test results and what communication the physicians placed in his chart after they left his room. We were never in the dark and we always felt that she was on our side.
On the second day of my husband's hospital stay (and the day he was to be discharged), my husband was happy to see Vernetta walk into the room. There was a sense of comfort and calmness about him knowing that she was going to be there with him. He was scheduled for a test that day and felt good having HIS NURSE there with him. He knew she was going to look out for his best interest and that he would be in good care. Vernetta even asked for my cell phone number and sent me text messages when I would go off the unit for a little break or when I headed home to take care of our two children. She reassured me that he was okay and updated me on when his testing would begin. There was a great sense of comfort knowing that I didn't have to worry about him while I was gone because she was there FOR HIM! She made him feel like he was her only patient. Vernetta even texted me after my husband left the hospital just to see how he was doing. This is someone who truly caresabout him and about me!
In the craziness of one of the hardest times in my life, it was great comfort for me to see my husband feel comfortable in this very uncomfortable situation. He was never scared to asked Vernetta for anything or for her to explain things to him. He felt comfortable joking around with her and watching the two of them interact and laugh was uplifting. There is something to be said about having someone in your corner and being truly present with us. Vernetta was this for us! She let me cry when my husband was down in a test and she didn't leave my side. She wrapped her arms around me and said "WE will figure this out". She was in this with us and not an outside person taking care of us. She included me as a part of him and that was the best part for me. Her attitude and repore with the physicians was outstanding and her confidence in Oakwood and the care he was being provided was reassuring!
As the DAISY award was developed based on the exceptional care Patrick Barnes and his family received during a very difficult time in their lives, it seems only appropriate that Vernetta should be recognized for this honor! She was definitely a breath of fresh air for myself and my husband during our difficult time!
Congratulations to Vernetta !!
The following was written through the DAISY nomination about Vernetta.
I would like to take this opportunity to nominate Vernetta Clark, RN for an Oakwood Daisy Award. I have been a nurse with Oakwood for over 17 years and have worked with many wonderful nurses. I never thought that I would be on the receiving end of patient and family centered care but unfortunately, I was in this situation last month and was impressed by the care we received from Vernetta.
In late January my husband was admitted to the hospital and this came as a complete and under shock to us. He was admitted to the critical care area which I have worked with many of the staff members in this area. As much as we like to help out our colleagues, it is sometimes difficult to take an assignment where you will be taking care of them!
Vernetta was assigned to my husband on his first day in the hospital. She approached BOTH OF US with calmness and compassion and addressed us as a friend/family. She explained everything in detail to my husband, even though I was sitting right there and could explain it to him as well, she didn't put this on me as a "nurse" of a patient -she treated me as a family member at that time. She definitely was a patient advocate by calling physicians and testing departments (MRI, CT, etc) to find out when they were going to be available and how long of a wait we may have. She always informed us of new test results and what communication the physicians placed in his chart after they left his room. We were never in the dark and we always felt that she was on our side.
On the second day of my husband's hospital stay (and the day he was to be discharged), my husband was happy to see Vernetta walk into the room. There was a sense of comfort and calmness about him knowing that she was going to be there with him. He was scheduled for a test that day and felt good having HIS NURSE there with him. He knew she was going to look out for his best interest and that he would be in good care. Vernetta even asked for my cell phone number and sent me text messages when I would go off the unit for a little break or when I headed home to take care of our two children. She reassured me that he was okay and updated me on when his testing would begin. There was a great sense of comfort knowing that I didn't have to worry about him while I was gone because she was there FOR HIM! She made him feel like he was her only patient. Vernetta even texted me after my husband left the hospital just to see how he was doing. This is someone who truly caresabout him and about me!
In the craziness of one of the hardest times in my life, it was great comfort for me to see my husband feel comfortable in this very uncomfortable situation. He was never scared to asked Vernetta for anything or for her to explain things to him. He felt comfortable joking around with her and watching the two of them interact and laugh was uplifting. There is something to be said about having someone in your corner and being truly present with us. Vernetta was this for us! She let me cry when my husband was down in a test and she didn't leave my side. She wrapped her arms around me and said "WE will figure this out". She was in this with us and not an outside person taking care of us. She included me as a part of him and that was the best part for me. Her attitude and repore with the physicians was outstanding and her confidence in Oakwood and the care he was being provided was reassuring!
As the DAISY award was developed based on the exceptional care Patrick Barnes and his family received during a very difficult time in their lives, it seems only appropriate that Vernetta should be recognized for this honor! She was definitely a breath of fresh air for myself and my husband during our difficult time!
Congratulations to Vernetta !!