Ashley Tran is the ultimate professional nurse. She models the MMC value of patient centered care. From the time that she receives report on her patients, she can be found right at the bedside. She gives 100% of herself to her patients. She follows through with the plan of care and takes total responsibility for her patients' outcomes. That she does not take a break until 3-4 in the afternoon demonstrates this commitment. She does work closely with CNAs, but the reality is that very sick cardiac patients require a lot of physical care and nursing resources only stretch so far. So if a patient has not been bathed or ambulated or assisted with a meal, Ashley does all of this herself. It is one of her priorities to learn her patients' stories while delivering this hands on care.
In addition to passing medications, attending heart failure rounds, discharge rounds, assessing patients and monitoring for changes, and attending to all of the many needs of cardiac patients with ischemia, heart failure, end stage cardiac disease and arrhythmia, Ashley makes time for patients and their families to express their emotional needs. She will stop in her tracks to listen to what her patients are telling her and she does it with a smile. There is never a complaint of fatigue, hunger, or that her assignment is too heavy. I witnessed her at 8PM conversing with a patient's daughter. The daughter had many questions and concerns about her mother. Ashley spent 20 minutes listening to her. She offered support and answered her questions. She still had charting to do but she stopped and listened. I said afterwards to her, "Ashley why didn't you cut that conversation short?" She said, "The daughter is just advocating for her mom." That is integrity and commitment.
I can honestly say that Ashley is one of a kind in her total dedication to doing the right thing for the patient. She inspires me because she is the ultimate bedside nurse.
Just this past weekend, Ashley cared for a patient who is recovering from a cardiac arrest. This patient told me, the charge nurse, that he wanted Ashley to care for him the next day. He couldn't praise her enough. As he experienced an embarrassing GI event and was trying to clean himself in the bathroom she came to the rescue. She was patient, calm, and made him feel like he was her only patient. This was in the middle of the busiest time for nurse, the 9AM med pass.
Ashley is the go to RN for questions about arrhythmias, cardiac medications, Epic, and cardiac procedural questions. She is a reliable and knowledgeable resource. Ask any R7 nurse or CNA who they would want caring for them or their family and the answer will be Ashley.
What will Ashley humbly say if she receives this award? She'll give a little laugh and smile, "Oh, Marge. I'm just doing my job."