Joanne Ellis who served as a leader and went above and beyond when a tragedy occurred. What started out to be just another day at work, drastically changed when we got a call to expect a large number of incoming patients. A bus full of 5th graders had collided with a dump truck. I watched everyone start rushing. All the nurses were lining up and getting monitors and beds ready for what was to come. Joanne was at the charge desk with nurses lined up at the ambulance doors, some masked and gowned, ready for whatever they were about to encounter. One by one as the ambulances rolled in, Joanne delegated where they should go and the nurses jumped into action. It was a team effort, but Joanne led the way.
Professionalism: It is horrifying to see an accident affect so many people, but the way that these nurses reacted was incredible. They heard what had happened, prepared for what was to come, and took immediate action. Joanne communicated with each and every nurse effectively and as a team, and they got the job done. Through awareness of how they interact with others, and with practice, our nurses have developed many interpersonal skills. Nurses communicated with their patients and reported back to Joanne. This gave us a list of names so that we could then match kids to families. These are the skills they use every day when interacting with other people, patients, and families.
Dignity/Respect: The nurses knew that this accident would be frightening to all parents. They recognized the importance of patient comfort, and providing emotional support comes naturally to them. When both patients and parents arrived, they were panicking, but the nurses remained calm and communicated with them on a personal level. Our nurses provided compassion to all their patients, and because of the care they provided, the children's parents trusted our nurses to help them. The nurses trusted Joanne, who served as a backbone and designated roles to all staff members. Joanne played a critical role and was a huge reason for our team handling the day so well.
Involvement: Kids were being moved around the different zones in the ED. Nurses who were off that day came in and helped with whatever they could. We had nurses in the EPIC playground that stopped their training and came to the floor to help with the chaos. It was all hands on deck. Our rooms were doubling up with beds and our hallways were full as well. Everyone worked together and demonstrated remarkable teamwork. Joanne worked to keep track of where every patient was, making sure they were registered, assigning a nurse to them, and putting them where they needed to be to get treated. She gathered names, found out where they were being transferred to, and compiled lists, which allowed us to reunite families.
Excellence: Joanne aided the staff and did everything she could to have controlled chaos. The nurses had their hands full and yet they continued to provide exceptional care to each and every patient they had. They worked fast and efficiently and took care of their patients in every way possible. No one ever expects a tragedy like that to occur, but to see the prompt action of all these nurses, and the way they worked as an efficient team, was inspiring. Joanne's actions showed what it is like to be a true leader.