Claire was my nurse from December 25- 26, 2015. She was simply amazing because she made me feel so comfortable during my stay. She was always asking if there was anything I needed, she never rushed in and out, and she took her time. She would listen to me and comforted me when I was scared. She was affectionate with a rub on my back and a pat on my hand, and a hug before I left. I have never seen or experienced any nurses like the ones at Holy Cross. But Claire stands out from all of them.
She had confidence in herself. When she had trouble with inserting a thick needle for a contrast line, she stopped and got another nurse with more experience in that. I appreciated the fact that Claire recognized the situation and in spite of her not being able to get it in on 2 tries, she was confident enough to get help so that I was not experiencing pain or a bad situation.
She was so supportive emotionally. She gave me positive words and when I was moved to another unit, she left me a goodbye note that encouraged me to stay strong and let me know I could get through this. I will keep her note forever to remind me of the good experience and people I encountered at Holy Cross.
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We are not at all surprised that Claire has been nominated for a DAISY Award as she epitomizes what a compassionate, dedicated and caring Oncology nurse should be. As an Oncology Certified Nurse (OCN), she loves to learn and translates this knowledge into compassionate and competent practice at the bedside. Whether her patient is overwhelmed with a new diagnosis of cancer, enduring side effects of chemotherapy, or facing with a poor prognosis, Claire is there to hold their hand and it's her witty sense of humor that makes her patients laugh and restores a sense of normalcy to their day. Claire respects her patients and makes them feel normal, treating them as a person and not a disease. She takes time to educate her patients and ensures that they understand their diagnosis, treatment and how to best care for themselves. She advocates for her patients' voice to be heard and truly understands whole person care.
Her coworkers say that Claire has a sparkle and it is her sparkle that lights the day of everyone she comes into contact with. Claire's passion for nursing is evident daily in her friendly interactions with others. We are grateful that she joined our team and has quickly become a much loved and respected member of our Oncology family.