Jan is an incredible nurse and is always thinking "out of the box". Earlier this year, there was a child admitted to VCU for surgery far from home, as closer facilities could not meet her health care needs.
Jan became her advocate and guide in the navigation of our complex health system. As you can imagine, this was a very stressful time for the child and her mother. Jan reduced their fear by quickly developing a relationship with them. The child's surgery and the postoperative course went smoothly.
During discharge planning, Jan shared her concerns over a long trip home as the family was in the midst of a move prior to her hospitalization. The trip home would be longer now and was from Richmond to Orlando. Unfortunately, the child did not qualify for licensed transport.
I could see the wheels turning in Jan's head when she told me her concerns. The next day, Jan told me that she was going to volunteer to be a support person for their trip home.
After almost two months in the hospital, the patient, her mother, and Jan left around six in the morning. Jan texted that they arrived safely, and it had been one heck of a trip, arriving in Orlando around 10 pm.
This is why I am so proud to call Jan Kirby my partner. It is rarely about her; always about her patients. This is why I believe she is a DAISY Nurse.