Paula
Solipaca
September 2012
Paula
Solipaca
,
BA, RN
Emergency Department
Jefferson Methodist Hospital
Philadelphia
,
PA
United States
Paula Solipaca, BA, RN, an Emergency Department staff nurse at Jefferson’s Methodist Hospital, was honored with the DAISY Award for Extraordinary Nurses. The award, offered through the DAISY Foundation, is part of Jefferson Nursing’s efforts to recognize the amazing work done by our nurses every day. A nursing colleague nominated Paula and here is her special story.
“I learned of the following story quite accidentally, when a beautiful bouquet of flowers was delivered to Paula Solipaca at the Methodist ED,” the nominator wrote. The flowers were from a very grateful patient.
While working in the Methodist fast track area, a few weeks prior, Paula encountered a young woman who was there for treatment. She began to relate concerns beyond herself. This patient was involved in a volunteer organization which helped deserving young girls go to their prom.
A dress, in the patient’s possession, had already been purchased and fitted for one of the girls, and was finally ready for delivery. The prom was less than six days away. During a domestic violence incident at the patient’s home, the dress was extensively damaged. The patient was so devastated that she would disappoint the young woman, who had no idea that her dress was ruined.
Paula, always comforting and knowing just the right words to say to her patient, told her that she would love to help. Paula gave them her personal phone number. The next day the patient's mother called Paula and asked if she could find a way to repair the dress. Paula, without hesitation, said "let me see what I can do,” and began her journey of leaving no stone unturned.
The story continues; it was Saturday, Paula's day off, and she and her Mom went to pick up the damaged dress. Paula, with her limited sewing background, consulted with her Mom, who had years of sewing experience. Both agreed that it was an impossible task, but they had to do something. They made the trek to 4th Street, the fabric district in Philadelphia, and Paula purchased (with her own money) fabric that resembled that of the ruined prom gown.
For the next two days, the mother and daughter worked non-stop to complete a dress for the unsuspecting high school senior. It was only after showing it to the patient and her family that they contacted the girl who was to wear it, and arranged for a fitting.
They had done such a wonderful job, that the girl hardly recognized it as a different dress. All ended well, and this deserving young lady, went to the prom in a beautiful dress designed especially for her. It happened all because of Paula. It happened because of her persistence and her dedication to our patients, and her willingness to do more than what is expected of her.
“Paula made a positive nursing imprint not only for her patient, but on a young girl who will someday pay it forward,” the nominator concluded. “This is only one story, but Paula does things like this every day. She is a wonderful representative of what caring nurses do, and I, for one, feel very lucky to have her as part of our staff.”
“I learned of the following story quite accidentally, when a beautiful bouquet of flowers was delivered to Paula Solipaca at the Methodist ED,” the nominator wrote. The flowers were from a very grateful patient.
While working in the Methodist fast track area, a few weeks prior, Paula encountered a young woman who was there for treatment. She began to relate concerns beyond herself. This patient was involved in a volunteer organization which helped deserving young girls go to their prom.
A dress, in the patient’s possession, had already been purchased and fitted for one of the girls, and was finally ready for delivery. The prom was less than six days away. During a domestic violence incident at the patient’s home, the dress was extensively damaged. The patient was so devastated that she would disappoint the young woman, who had no idea that her dress was ruined.
Paula, always comforting and knowing just the right words to say to her patient, told her that she would love to help. Paula gave them her personal phone number. The next day the patient's mother called Paula and asked if she could find a way to repair the dress. Paula, without hesitation, said "let me see what I can do,” and began her journey of leaving no stone unturned.
The story continues; it was Saturday, Paula's day off, and she and her Mom went to pick up the damaged dress. Paula, with her limited sewing background, consulted with her Mom, who had years of sewing experience. Both agreed that it was an impossible task, but they had to do something. They made the trek to 4th Street, the fabric district in Philadelphia, and Paula purchased (with her own money) fabric that resembled that of the ruined prom gown.
For the next two days, the mother and daughter worked non-stop to complete a dress for the unsuspecting high school senior. It was only after showing it to the patient and her family that they contacted the girl who was to wear it, and arranged for a fitting.
They had done such a wonderful job, that the girl hardly recognized it as a different dress. All ended well, and this deserving young lady, went to the prom in a beautiful dress designed especially for her. It happened all because of Paula. It happened because of her persistence and her dedication to our patients, and her willingness to do more than what is expected of her.
“Paula made a positive nursing imprint not only for her patient, but on a young girl who will someday pay it forward,” the nominator concluded. “This is only one story, but Paula does things like this every day. She is a wonderful representative of what caring nurses do, and I, for one, feel very lucky to have her as part of our staff.”