As long as I have worked with Dana, she has continuously demonstrated the professional practice roles of a nurse as a sentry, healer, guide, teacher, collaborator, leader, and most importantly, a compassionate caregiver. A sentry is on who watches over and protects. Dana acts as a sentry by always speaking out or standing up for what she believes is right for her patients and the staff she works alongside. On multiple occasions, I have found myself in awe by the way Dana eloquently speaks with her patients. One night shift, we took over care of a patient who was transferred from the ER to 4A on South Campus. This patient had fallen at home and was very bruised all over her body. Dana graciously told the patient that we were going to reposition her and explained everything to the scared, older woman to give her reassurance. Though being admitted to the hospital can be alarming, I believe that patient had a more smooth and calming experience because Dana took time to be a healer to her.
In another instance when I worked alongside Dana, we received a call from the PICU requesting help with placing a Foley on a patient who sustained a hip fracture. This patient was a young pre-teen who had been in a motor-vehicle accident with her mom and sister. The patient was very frightened by the circumstance she was in. Dana guided the young girl by explaining the procedure of placing a Foley and gave the patient the utmost privacy possible. Dana reassured the patient by directing her through the unfamiliar circumstance by possessing intimate knowledge along the way. Dana knew the patient was very scared and uncomfortable; the more Dana spoke to the patient, the more the young girl felt as ease.
A teacher is one who imparts knowledge or helps another learn a skill. Dana is always the one nurses go to ask questions because she almost always knows the answers or knows what resources to use to find the answer. She encourages others to try new skills by supporting them in a learning environment. She is always ready to take on new challenges and is very approachable. She collaborates with others to achieve a common purpose, and most often that purpose involves caring for the patients. Dana influences direction and change by leading those she works alongside. Dana is a compassionate caregiver who cares for all patients as if they were her own family. She is an extraordinary nurse who enhances the lives of her patients and the staff who are lucky enough to get to work with her!