Shanda Nardelli is a very deserving nurse caring for women in NP1 Women's Infusion and beyond. Shanda is warm and welcoming to each patient spending time in our center. She knows and remembers patients, family members, and friends. She remembers details and situations to share with patients that let a patient know they were heard, and are important. Shanda goes the extra mile to make a patient and their family/friends feel cared for and cared about.
One example of a special connection with a patient or family member involves a woman, K and her husband B. This woman is young, in her mid 40's, with a husband and 3 sons. She was diagnosed with ovarian cancer over 10 years ago and has been treated intermittently in our infusion center since diagnosis. In recent months, her health has declined significantly, and she choose to stop her active weekly chemotherapy treatments. She has home care with pain control management via a home care agency. However, she continues to come in weekly to NP1 for Shanda to "make everything okay". Often, she needs assistance with her pain pump or managing her fistula, and both K and her husband have the utmost trust in Shanda to keep it all on track. On one occasion, because Shanda communicated with the pain pump company so often, the person from the company actually thought Shanda worked for them! Shanda has often spent upwards of 5 hours in a day with the patient and husband, while still caring exceptionally well for her other 5 or 6 patients. The difference she has made in the life of this patient and husband is beyond words.
Shanda and I have worked together on NP1 Infusion for over 8 years. These past years have seen significant growth in our patient population, with intermittent periods of staffing challenges. Yet, when Shanda is caring for her patients, they feel well cared for, never rushed. She is an exemplary nurse, truly deserving of recognition. Thank you for this opportunity.