I first met Oritza Haedo over a year and a half ago. Ms. Haedo was one of the nurses taking care of my brother who had cancer. She was always very attentive with my brother and our family. We live in a different state and when my brother was weak after chemotherapy, she contacted me to let me know how he was doing and feeling. When the doctors decided to send my brother to hospice, she immediately called me and told me that the end was near and that it was imperative to rush to Florida to give my brother a final goodbye. It took me two days to arrive but Ms. Haedo visited him daily because she thought it was important for him to hear a friendly voice. Ms. Haedo has a caring and loving approach to cancer patients and family. Even attending the funeral for the patient who lost their battle.

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It takes a special nurse to make their patients feel safe and treat them with respect and compassion. Oritza is this nurse. She plans and anticipates how she is going to touch people’s lives and how they are going to teach her to be humble and live in the now. She has often stated that these patients give her true purpose in life. Oritza always does the best for her patients so they can have an amazing patient experience.
A recent patient of hers stated that “Oritza was awesome and went above and beyond to care for me. I didn’t even care that she kept waking me because she was so caring.” Her patients describe her as always having an infectious smile. They also describe her as being knowledgeable and never seeming rushed when providing care to them. She always makes sure she has the appropriate information about her patients to make safe and appropriate decisions regarding their care. She is an advocate for her patients and makes every effort to clarify anything that is inappropriate or unclear in her patient’s treatment plan. She makes them feel like they are the only patient she is caring for.
Oritza recently had a terminal patient. He was transferred to a PCU unit where he lost his favorite cologne when he was moved. Oritza was able to find the cologne, ordered it online, and brought it to him.
This same patient was on our unit for a long length of time and one of his last wishes was to have a band come and do a Parranda. This is a Puerto Rican music tradition that takes place in Puerto Rico during the Christmas holiday season. Parrandas are social events that feature traditional Puerto Rican music food and drinks. Oritza was able to arrange this for this patient. Our main lobby had a Parranda for him. Oritza came in several hours early in the afternoon and helped get this gentleman ready and got him down to the lobby. It meant the world to him.
This same patient was at home once and Oritza called to check on him. He told her he needed to go to the hospital, and he did not have a ride. Oritza went to his house picked him up and dropped him off at the hospital. Oritza has a passion for nursing that is evident in the care that she gives to her patients. Her coworkers state that they love to work with Oritza. She is always checking up on them. They feel comfortable and relaxed when she is working. She is always willing to help wherever needed. Her patients and her coworkers are blessed to have her on the unit.