Jill provides the best possible care for her patients, specifically utilizing all her available resources including downtime between required patient care tasks.

Jill recently cared for a patient whose family had a multitude of needs, including resources for permanent housing, access to nutritional food options, emotional support resources, and most crucially, for one of their child's caretakers to simply acknowledge how much hardship and sadness they were currently facing with their child's relapse of an Oncologic disease. Jill and I often cared for this patient together over the last few years during his stay on 4 Henson, and I have had the opportunity to witness her deep compassion and genuine love for this patient and his family. I can recall vividly, experiencing such a sense of peace as I opened the door to patient's room and instead of hearing the anticipated cries of discomfort, I heard Jill's soothing "mommy" voice, reading a Dr. Seuss book aloud. As I entered the room, I saw what I assumed to be the patient's mom lying next to him in bed, comforting cradling the 6-year-old in her arms, as most mothers would do. As I approached the patient, I observed mom lying on the parent bed across the room. I became suddenly overwhelmed with emotion, realizing that it was, in fact, Jill cradling the patient in her arms as his mom listened and observed intently at how his nurse cared as delicately for him as she herself would. The patient's mom expressed an amazing sense of gratitude to me for the care that Jill provided to her son during this time of suffering and for Jill's continual advocacy with the Hem/Onc team and physicians. This mom was very appreciative of the love and concern that Jill expressed during the family's most difficult trial of facing the reality of losing their son to cancer. Jill never allowed the family's outward appearance and occasional struggle to independently meet their child's needs to negatively affect her attitude or the care she provided them.

I continued to witness Jill's authenticity in her care of this precious little boy over the last few weeks of his life, as she spoke to the family each day in a calm, but realistic manner, asking what questions and fears they had for their child's last days with them. Each time I cared for this patient, I could anticipate one of the family's primary concerns as I entered the room. "Is it finally Saturday? Jill should be back today!" Since Jill was a weekend option nurse at the time, the patient would ask for her to be assigned as his nurse each day, awaiting the arrival of the weekend with such excitement! Jill delivered the highest standard of care EVERY time she came to work, receiving her patient assignment with peace and excitement, never expressing negativity or frustration with the family's expansive, unique needs. Jill utilized her downtime between patient care needs to spend time with the patient and his family, not only reading his favorite books, but ensuring they had all of their needs met in the best way that Children's Mercy could provide assistance. Jill acted (and always does) in the true sense of altruism, providing consistent, family centered nursing care in a holistic manner.

Jill is an authentic representation of Children's Mercy and the care we strive to provide to each family. She is an extraordinary Nurse.