July 2014
Melissa
Blackburn
,
RN, CPN
Nursing Unit 6B
Children's Hospital of Pittsburgh of UPMC
Pittsburgh
,
PA
United States
...Melissa has been instrumental in patient advocacy. Her voice is heard frequently throughout her patients' stay. She quickly and easily develops a rapport with both patients and their families. Melissa gains their trust quickly, which enables her to provide them the best family centered care. This is demonstrated by her dedication, both on and off duty. She encourages pet visits to brighten up a patient's day, celebrating "hospital spent" birthdays by bringing in a special gift, and by coming in for extra shifts to take care of her patient's on that exciting and long awaited day of discharge.
Most recently, 6B had a patient who was admitted for approximately 3 months. As that patient's primary nurse, Melissa went above and beyond to make her patient's dream come true. She initially facilitated the patient to receive a "Make a Wish." The patient's mom refused as she felt other, more severely ill, patients should benefit from this. Melissa, unwilling to give up, came up with a plan B.
Throughout her 3 month stay, this patient was frequently made NPO, yet dreamed of cooking and opening her own restaurant. Plan B consisted of introducing her patient to "Jamie's Dream Team"*. Melissa was able to watch and experience her patient's dream come true on February 14. This patient opened and ran her own diner for a day called "Pudd's Diner."
This is just one example of Melissa's time and dedication to the nursing profession. Not only is she an amazing patient advocate, she is a great team player. She frequently works extra to improve 6B staffing. Melissa is also very involved outside of patient care by being the 6B Supply Tech Champion, practice council representative, and member of the peer review committee. In closing, Melissa exhibits CHP values every day. She is a true patient advocate and goes above and beyond each shift. Patients and families not only consider her their nurse, but their friend.
*The mission of Jamie’s Dream Team is to lift the spirits of those suffering from, and ease the burden caused by, serious illness, injury, disability or trauma. The purpose of Jamie’s Dream Team as a public charity is to provide assistance and/or make distributions to or on behalf of qualifying individuals who are handicapped, disabled, terminally ill, severely injured or suffering from a serious medical condition, disease, or trauma. http://jamiesdreamteam.myfastsite.net/
Most recently, 6B had a patient who was admitted for approximately 3 months. As that patient's primary nurse, Melissa went above and beyond to make her patient's dream come true. She initially facilitated the patient to receive a "Make a Wish." The patient's mom refused as she felt other, more severely ill, patients should benefit from this. Melissa, unwilling to give up, came up with a plan B.
Throughout her 3 month stay, this patient was frequently made NPO, yet dreamed of cooking and opening her own restaurant. Plan B consisted of introducing her patient to "Jamie's Dream Team"*. Melissa was able to watch and experience her patient's dream come true on February 14. This patient opened and ran her own diner for a day called "Pudd's Diner."
This is just one example of Melissa's time and dedication to the nursing profession. Not only is she an amazing patient advocate, she is a great team player. She frequently works extra to improve 6B staffing. Melissa is also very involved outside of patient care by being the 6B Supply Tech Champion, practice council representative, and member of the peer review committee. In closing, Melissa exhibits CHP values every day. She is a true patient advocate and goes above and beyond each shift. Patients and families not only consider her their nurse, but their friend.
*The mission of Jamie’s Dream Team is to lift the spirits of those suffering from, and ease the burden caused by, serious illness, injury, disability or trauma. The purpose of Jamie’s Dream Team as a public charity is to provide assistance and/or make distributions to or on behalf of qualifying individuals who are handicapped, disabled, terminally ill, severely injured or suffering from a serious medical condition, disease, or trauma. http://jamiesdreamteam.myfastsite.net/