Debbie Dawes
September 2021
Debbie
Dawes
,
ASN, RN
1 West Medicine/Covid
Vanderbilt Wilson County Hospital
Lebanon
,
TN
United States
The patient said after having Debbie that day, her entire outlook changed, and she no longer thought about doing herself harm after being discharged.
I received a call this morning from a patient who was here 3 weeks ago. She called to brag on staff and mentioned Debbie Dawes by name. She said a large part of why was still here today to make the call was due to Debbie. Apparently, the patient was extremely depressed, tired of being sick, and felt like a burden on her family. She said her full intent was to commit suicide after being discharged. She said Debbie was her nurse on 2N the day she was having these thoughts. She told me that Debbie was very caring and pulled up a chair just to let her vent, even though she never expressed her suicidal ideations. The patient said after having Debbie that day, her entire outlook changed, and she no longer thought about doing herself harm after being discharged. I have heard numerous stories of how a nurse made a difference in someone's life; however, I have never in my 31 years of nursing heard a story such as this. She actually said she owes her life to Debbie and the other staff who cared for her on that day.
***
This email was sent to me by another director about Debbie and the patient that she helped that day. My jaw dropped as I was reading this, and I asked Debbie if I could share her story. Debbie personally has lost three family members: her cousin, her dad, and her beloved son to suicide. That loss is what drives Debbie to provide the best care for her patients. To listen to their troubles, to provide warmth and love, and to help those in times when they don't know how to go on. She constantly speaks out to help those she cares for. I had the pleasure of starting my career with Debbie and have worked alongside her and seen her heartbreak and words of healing. The compassion, advocacy, and care she exhibits for each patient is life-altering. When I shared with Debbie the story from the patient her only reply was, "God knew I was supposed to be there". She cried and thanked me. I went back to my office and was overwhelmed because it was a God moment and Debbie was an angel that day. Knowing how she turned her pain into helping others, she is a light to our unit and that deserves to be recognized.
***
This email was sent to me by another director about Debbie and the patient that she helped that day. My jaw dropped as I was reading this, and I asked Debbie if I could share her story. Debbie personally has lost three family members: her cousin, her dad, and her beloved son to suicide. That loss is what drives Debbie to provide the best care for her patients. To listen to their troubles, to provide warmth and love, and to help those in times when they don't know how to go on. She constantly speaks out to help those she cares for. I had the pleasure of starting my career with Debbie and have worked alongside her and seen her heartbreak and words of healing. The compassion, advocacy, and care she exhibits for each patient is life-altering. When I shared with Debbie the story from the patient her only reply was, "God knew I was supposed to be there". She cried and thanked me. I went back to my office and was overwhelmed because it was a God moment and Debbie was an angel that day. Knowing how she turned her pain into helping others, she is a light to our unit and that deserves to be recognized.