Today while at the Parma CBOC I picked up a pamphlet regarding The DAISY Award. This brochure indicates the DAISY NURSE LEADER Award will fully support their direct care staff. These leaders understand the impact staff has on patients and their families. These leaders inspire the nurses to do their very best and they provide a setting where compassion is valued, staff, in turn, treat patients and their families with deep humanity. It is based on this description that I would like to nominate Janet Deskins for The DAISY Nurse Leader Award.
As I mentioned earlier, I was at an appointment at the Parma VA which isn't even my primary facility. I witnessed something that I feel needs to be shared. There were several of us sitting in the waiting area and I noticed a woman wearing an employee badge sitting there as well. Unsure if she was there for herself or someone else, I sat back and observed her interaction. I quickly noticed her communication skills.
Another vet sitting there began to talk with her. I was sure after a short time they knew each other. He shared with her that he missed seeing her and asked what happened to her. She advised him that she had become the Nurse Manager. He began to bring her up to date on all his woes and concerns regarding his health, his family and everything that was important to him. He reflected on the things that she had done while his nurse and told her he knew she would be a good manager. What stood out was that she listened attentively as if she had no other reason for being there or like he was her only concern. She thanked him for letting the VA take care of him. She told him it was an honor and a privilege. As a vet myself I know how important it is for us veterans to hear those types of comments. They make us feel like we matter.
This woman went on to demonstrate her awareness as a leader by checking out his patient satisfaction. She engaged the patient in things that were probably important to him. She asked how the nurses and providers were treating him at his primary CBOC. She asked him how his care had been at the Parma clinic and if he was pleased. She went on to ask if there was anything he noticed that the nursing staff might do to make things better. He told her things had been good but he knew if there was a problem he could bring it to her and it would be taken care of. She exhibited effective leadership by ensuring patient satisfaction not only at the clinic she managed but at the patient's current location as well. I could tell he trusted her. She demonstrated leadership by continuing to build a relationship of trust. She openly praised and built up her staff at New Philadelphia for the care they give.
The vet told me after she left he was a patient and she had been his nurse. It was obvious he thought the world of her and respected her for the care she gave him. And it was mutually obvious he thought the great care he had continued to receive was because of her leadership. I was impressed and thought about how her care affected him. Janet Deskins exhibited grace, compassion, and leadership as she obviously set aside her purpose for being at the Parma VA to interact with this patient as if he were the only one that mattered.