I have been a patient here at Aurora St. Luke's many times in the past year and a half. I always request 9S for one reason, the staff! One staff member particular has always made my stay better; Dawn is simply the best nurse I have ever had! Plain and simple! She has always gone above and beyond to make sure I am comfortable with anything and everything that's going on, explains things in terms that I can fully understand, and has made me and my family feel loved. I will never forget Dawn and all she's done. Being a nurse is exactly what she's made for.
The first time I was admitted here at Aurora St. Luke's was in April 2014. Since then, I have been in here at least 6 times (sometimes for more than a month at a time), been placed with an LVAD, received a heart transplant, and fought a major case of rejection. I always request to be placed on 9S because of the staff. There are quite a few nurses in particular, but Dawn stands out, by far, above them all!
Even if Dawn isn't my specific nurse for the day, she'll still take the time to check in on me. She always knows if something is wrong with me. On this stay, Dawn may have just saved my life to be honest, that's how dedicated she is to her patients. She knew I wasn't "myself" mentally and took a personal concern by calling the doctor (since she knows my history and all, because I trust her…). She got him to see me ASAP. If she hadn't have done that, I don't know what would/could have happened. I can't thank her enough!
It hasn't been all about me either! She takes the time to make sure the patient's family and friends are also at ease! My family and friends absolutely love her just as I do! You could not have a better RN on your team!
Dawn just so happened to be the one who was my nurse the day/night I got my new heart. I'm so very thankful that she was the one to go thru that with us. She helped me understand what would happen, she called/talked to my mom because I was too shocked to keep calm to talk straight, ha-ha she even offered to lay in front of transport to make sure I got to see my son and my mom before they took me down to surgery (we live 2 hours away). She was there every step of the way!
I believe she deserves this DAISY Award, more than any nurse I know.
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Dawn Grube has been a phenomenal part of the recovery process. She has been our educator, comforter, support and cheerleader throughout the process of diagnosis, treatment and recovery. She humanized the process and was available to us, never rushing through and making sure we knew what had been explained, were comfortable with what was occurring and didn't need anything else. Dawn was clearly called to the nursing profession and her compassion made the stay manageable. She is an integral part of the Aurora team and makes a huge difference in the patient's lives.
I have been at Aurora St. Luke's with a patient, a heart transplant patient on many admissions and Dawn has been the standout of the nursing team.
Dawn exemplifies what a nurse should strive to be. She is knowledgeable and able to translate what is occurring into words that everyone understands. She is compassionate and has helped us through some of the most difficult periods of our lives while maintaining her professionalism and showing the caring we needed. She has given each of us as much time as has been needed to make sure everyone was doing the best we could under the circumstances. I personally believe she is responsible for the patient being alive today due to her getting to know her and being able to recognize when she was struggling mentally and emotionally with the pressures of heart rejection. Her concern and actions intervened to prevent a dangerous spiraling that the patient had been experiencing but not talking about. If not for Dawn, I hesitate to think what could have happened. I am forever grateful to Dawn for keeping the patient alive, for me and everyone else who loves her. I know that there is no way that I can repay her and hope that she is able to receive this award as a part of acknowledging how very much she, and her actions, have meant to me and affected my life.
This was not the first time Dawn had helped the patient through a difficult period and her dedication to her patients shows with everyone I have seen her working with while visiting. It may be a job for some, but for Dawn it is a calling and she excels at it. I have worked with Doctors and nurses throughout my career and would live to have someone like Dawn on my team. She is a rare mix that I have only seen on rare occasions. While I'm sure that you acknowledge and value her already, I really needed to point out her impact on my life and the gratitude that I hold for her and could never forget.
While the majority of the nurses have been wonderful, I cannot imagine anyone more deserving of the DAISY Award than Dawn Grube. She really is the star of your team.