May 2021
Peggy
Mende
,
RN
VNA Health Group Holmdel
VNA Health Group
Holmdel
,
NJ
United States
Peggy says, “I’ll make it work, don’t worry about it!” And that is her nature… whatever worries she can take from another, she does. Whatever burden she can alleviate, she takes on.
Peggy Mende exemplifies all that a nurse should strive to be. Peggy inspires those around her to be the best they can be because she gives her all in everything she does. She is a strong patient advocate, who pushes for patients to have all of their care needs met, even if that means fighting for those needs against the odds. She is an agent of change, not afraid to ask questions and point out problems when she perceives them, no matter the audience. She is an educator to her peers, ever-patient, and implementer of evidence-based practice. Peggy has demonstrated exemplary nursing practice and courage in the past year. She has practiced safely, preventing the spread of Covid-19 in the community while never missing a day of work.
Peggy even ventured to work during the snowstorms to visit patients who had no other source of assistance, and not only that! Despite having already planned her day in order to operate as safely as possible during the snowstorm, she offered to take an admission unexpectedly, for a patient who had been waiting to initiate services and get assistance with medication and pain management, as well as mobility in the home. Doing this gave the patient and her spouse assurance that VNA Health Group goes to great lengths to meet patient care needs, and allowed for the patient to experience no further delay in assignment of home health aide and therapy services.
On another occasion, Peggy rearranged her plans on a weekend to assist with specimen collection for a patient whose spouse was certain he would end up in the hospital with complications of a urinary tract infection if prompt intervention did not take place. Where others might ask, “Why labs on a weekend?” Peggy says, “I’ll make it work, don’t worry about it!” And that is her nature… whatever worries she can take from another, she does. Whatever burden she can alleviate, she takes on. She meets her teammates when they are in need of supplies or helps with a difficult situation. She collaborates with other disciplines to ensure patients are expertly case managed, while placing patient preferences first. She never misses a beat with communication, and I often wonder how she can do so many things at once, multi-tasking so seamlessly. She works tirelessly to serve the most vulnerable patients in the community, and there is no doubt that she represents this agency like a true champion of home care. Peggy is admired by her teammates, and she inspires her management to be the best they can be, too. I could go on with many examples of her professionalism, skill, compassion, and courage, but time is limited. All there is left to say is that Peggy Mende is a true DAISY Nurse and I am so very proud and grateful to work with such an admirable, selfless, and inspirational RN!
Peggy even ventured to work during the snowstorms to visit patients who had no other source of assistance, and not only that! Despite having already planned her day in order to operate as safely as possible during the snowstorm, she offered to take an admission unexpectedly, for a patient who had been waiting to initiate services and get assistance with medication and pain management, as well as mobility in the home. Doing this gave the patient and her spouse assurance that VNA Health Group goes to great lengths to meet patient care needs, and allowed for the patient to experience no further delay in assignment of home health aide and therapy services.
On another occasion, Peggy rearranged her plans on a weekend to assist with specimen collection for a patient whose spouse was certain he would end up in the hospital with complications of a urinary tract infection if prompt intervention did not take place. Where others might ask, “Why labs on a weekend?” Peggy says, “I’ll make it work, don’t worry about it!” And that is her nature… whatever worries she can take from another, she does. Whatever burden she can alleviate, she takes on. She meets her teammates when they are in need of supplies or helps with a difficult situation. She collaborates with other disciplines to ensure patients are expertly case managed, while placing patient preferences first. She never misses a beat with communication, and I often wonder how she can do so many things at once, multi-tasking so seamlessly. She works tirelessly to serve the most vulnerable patients in the community, and there is no doubt that she represents this agency like a true champion of home care. Peggy is admired by her teammates, and she inspires her management to be the best they can be, too. I could go on with many examples of her professionalism, skill, compassion, and courage, but time is limited. All there is left to say is that Peggy Mende is a true DAISY Nurse and I am so very proud and grateful to work with such an admirable, selfless, and inspirational RN!