Janelle Copeland
December 2020
Janelle
Copeland
,
RN, CN
Intermediate Care
Covenant Health Lubbock
After the walk with Janelle, he went back to his room and seemed like a completely different patient.
I would like to nominate Janelle Copeland for the Daisy Award because of her overwhelming capacity for compassion and her devotion to her patients.
We recently had a male patient in his 40's on the unit. This gentleman had lost both legs, and he suffered from chronic pain and substance abuse issues. The staff found it difficult to meet his needs due to his constant use of profanity and insistence on yelling at everyone that walked by his room. Security was called several times to discuss appropriate behavior with him.
Janelle received report one morning on the patient and the events that had occurred. She was not discouraged; instead, she sought out to help this patient. She went in and introduced herself as the day charge nurse. She then spent time listening to the patient and made sure that he felt heard and knew that his feelings mattered. The patient expressed that he really wanted some clothes and wanted to get out of his hospital room. Janelle made several calls and was able to get him some clothes. She then assisted him to a wheelchair and pushed him around the unit.
During this time, she offered him what he had been needing all along, friendship, compassion, and kindness. They talked with ease like they had been friends for years. This whole process astonished me. Several other people had tried to help this patient but to no avail. Janelle's ability to put a patient at ease is unmatched. This interaction with Janelle affected this patient's entire day.
After the walk with Janelle, he went back to his room and seemed like a completely different patient. It is easy to be kind to those who are sweet and easy to get along with. It takes the biggest of hearts to reach those that others see as unreachable. This patient had suffered trials in his life that we will never understand, and even as he pushed everyone away, Janelle found a way to break through. She is truly a blessing to everyone on our unit, patients, and staff alike.
We recently had a male patient in his 40's on the unit. This gentleman had lost both legs, and he suffered from chronic pain and substance abuse issues. The staff found it difficult to meet his needs due to his constant use of profanity and insistence on yelling at everyone that walked by his room. Security was called several times to discuss appropriate behavior with him.
Janelle received report one morning on the patient and the events that had occurred. She was not discouraged; instead, she sought out to help this patient. She went in and introduced herself as the day charge nurse. She then spent time listening to the patient and made sure that he felt heard and knew that his feelings mattered. The patient expressed that he really wanted some clothes and wanted to get out of his hospital room. Janelle made several calls and was able to get him some clothes. She then assisted him to a wheelchair and pushed him around the unit.
During this time, she offered him what he had been needing all along, friendship, compassion, and kindness. They talked with ease like they had been friends for years. This whole process astonished me. Several other people had tried to help this patient but to no avail. Janelle's ability to put a patient at ease is unmatched. This interaction with Janelle affected this patient's entire day.
After the walk with Janelle, he went back to his room and seemed like a completely different patient. It is easy to be kind to those who are sweet and easy to get along with. It takes the biggest of hearts to reach those that others see as unreachable. This patient had suffered trials in his life that we will never understand, and even as he pushed everyone away, Janelle found a way to break through. She is truly a blessing to everyone on our unit, patients, and staff alike.