Teresa Rader
June 2013
Teresa
Rader
,
BSN
ICU
Broadlawns Medical Center
Des Moines
,
IA
United States
There are many reasons why Teresa Rader, BSN, RN, deserves the DAISY Award. She is continually going above and beyond and consistently displays expert compassionate care to all patients she comes into contact with. Her enthusiasm for her role as an intensive care unit nurse is evident to patients, families and co-workers. She strives for excellence in all that she does. It is evident that Teresa loves to educate and teach as she is always taking the opportunity to share her knowledge with the many students and other professionals that rotate through the ICU.
I enjoy observing Teresa interacting not only with the many families and students but especially her patients. She has a special way of doing this and is an outstanding role model for all. There are many examples that I can give but one in particular sticks out in my mind.
There was a gentleman that had been in the ICU for quite some time and Teresa had spent many shifts caring for him. I would come through the ICU and she would frequently be at his bedside, combing his hair, shaving his face, even cutting his hair when he requested it. This gentleman had great difficulty at times expressing what his needs were to staff, yet when Teresa cared for him it was not near as difficult. She had a way of quickly understanding just what exactly his needs were.
Teresa was a phenomenal advocate for this patient and worded with the doctors so that she could take him outdoors for wheelchair rides. This patient has since passed away, but seeing the look on his face after Teresa would bring him in from their walks, I know that she made each day she cared for him and the last days of his life the best that she possibly could.
Teresa's personal nursing philosophy is every patient deserves compassion, regardless of the circumstances of their illness. She always tries to treat every patient like she would want one of her own family members treated. But for the grace of God it could be her or someone she loves in the bed. It is not always easy, especially with the unique clientele we serve, but that it is still her belief.
I enjoy observing Teresa interacting not only with the many families and students but especially her patients. She has a special way of doing this and is an outstanding role model for all. There are many examples that I can give but one in particular sticks out in my mind.
There was a gentleman that had been in the ICU for quite some time and Teresa had spent many shifts caring for him. I would come through the ICU and she would frequently be at his bedside, combing his hair, shaving his face, even cutting his hair when he requested it. This gentleman had great difficulty at times expressing what his needs were to staff, yet when Teresa cared for him it was not near as difficult. She had a way of quickly understanding just what exactly his needs were.
Teresa was a phenomenal advocate for this patient and worded with the doctors so that she could take him outdoors for wheelchair rides. This patient has since passed away, but seeing the look on his face after Teresa would bring him in from their walks, I know that she made each day she cared for him and the last days of his life the best that she possibly could.
Teresa's personal nursing philosophy is every patient deserves compassion, regardless of the circumstances of their illness. She always tries to treat every patient like she would want one of her own family members treated. But for the grace of God it could be her or someone she loves in the bed. It is not always easy, especially with the unique clientele we serve, but that it is still her belief.