Emily Rotella previously worked in a nursing home, and now in the hospital, she'll see patients she used to take care of and go out of her way to say hello and see how they are. Emily really has a gift with that population. She is able to connect with her patients, she is the first one to jump in and look at the situation from the patient's point of view, and she is able to empathize with anyone.
A patient who needed dialysis had Emily there to help. She was with that patient throughout her shift while also managing her other patients. Emily also stayed after her shift to make sure that the patient's dialysis was done correctly and that the day nurse felt comfortable performing it. I remember going into the patient's room that night to assist the patient and him saying how well taken care of he felt, he asked when Emily came on to work and asked when she would be back.
There were so many nights I remember Emily staying in a patient's room talking for an hour just to comfort them and make sure they felt safe. When COVID hit, Emily was always sure to call the patient's family to update them and facetime when she could.
Emily has expanded her role as a bedside nurse often times being tasked with being the charge nurse. She is approachable and non-judgmental, people aren't afraid to go to her about mistakes or problems they face throughout the shift. She is able to maintain a calm, positive, and professional atmosphere even during volatile situations.
Emily is a great nurse who has a vast knowledge of nursing and is an expert in clinical skills, and she will keep up to date on skills she doesn't use every day. She is an amazing preceptor to new nurses on the floor. Not only does she precept the majority of new nurses on her unit but she is also involved in committees with the intention to improve her unit.