Lady Ann DeGuzman
May 2023
Lady Ann
DeGuzman
,
RN
DaVita Orlando Health Acute
Orlando
,
FL
United States
Lady Ann’s empathetic approach resulted in the patient feeling comfortable proceeding with the therapy and visibly less apprehensive.
Throughout my time working with Lady Ann I have consistently been impressed and inspired by her clinical expertise, her commitment to teaching her peers, and her passion for caring for others.
Lady Ann is a true leader in her field, her knowledge of apheresis procedures and equipment is second to none. Just recently Lady Ann led our team of nurses as we performed our first stem cell collection apheresis treatment. This apheresis therapy is a necessary component of a clinical trial targeting advanced solid tumor cancers, unresponsive to standard therapies. Lady Ann quickly realized how important it was to help treat these patients and quickly rallied our nurses to coordinate training for this specialized therapy.
When the time came to treat our first patient, Lady Ann was present for every step of the process. As this was our first ever stem cell collection she worked patiently with our providers to ensure proper therapy orders were placed. She helped a fellow teammate with preparing equipment prior to the patient's arrival.
When our patient arrived to the acute unit, Lady Ann could sense the patient’s fear and uncertainty. Lady Ann approached our patient with kindness, empathy, and respect, and went above and beyond to ensure that she was comfortable. This patient was afraid the process would be painful. She shared that she had already been through 24 rounds of abdominal radiation which was the worst pain she had ever experienced. She told Lady Ann that she was not prepared to feel that much pain; she thought the chemotherapy would be the hard part but she was shocked at how awful the radiation was. Lady Ann offered a calm presence as she listened to the patient open up and share her unpleasant experience. After her past experiences, the patient was now afraid that she would not be properly prepared for a potentially painful four to five hours. Lady Ann validated her past experiences and began to slowly and carefully explain what to expect throughout the entire process. She reassured the patient that there should be no acute pain during apheresis, thoroughly explaining any possible side effects and what the nursing staff can do in response to each side effect. Lady Ann’s empathetic approach resulted in the patient feeling comfortable proceeding with the therapy and visibly less apprehensive.
I witnessed Lady Ann go out of her way to make sure her patient had everything she needed, from a warm blanket to a comforting word. She is truly invested in her patients' well-being and takes the time to build meaningful connections with each and every one of them.
What sets Lady Ann apart is her unwavering dedication to her patients. Overall, I believe that Lady Ann is an exceptional nurse who truly embodies the spirit of the DAISY Award. She is a credit to our profession, and I am proud to call her my colleague.
Lady Ann is a true leader in her field, her knowledge of apheresis procedures and equipment is second to none. Just recently Lady Ann led our team of nurses as we performed our first stem cell collection apheresis treatment. This apheresis therapy is a necessary component of a clinical trial targeting advanced solid tumor cancers, unresponsive to standard therapies. Lady Ann quickly realized how important it was to help treat these patients and quickly rallied our nurses to coordinate training for this specialized therapy.
When the time came to treat our first patient, Lady Ann was present for every step of the process. As this was our first ever stem cell collection she worked patiently with our providers to ensure proper therapy orders were placed. She helped a fellow teammate with preparing equipment prior to the patient's arrival.
When our patient arrived to the acute unit, Lady Ann could sense the patient’s fear and uncertainty. Lady Ann approached our patient with kindness, empathy, and respect, and went above and beyond to ensure that she was comfortable. This patient was afraid the process would be painful. She shared that she had already been through 24 rounds of abdominal radiation which was the worst pain she had ever experienced. She told Lady Ann that she was not prepared to feel that much pain; she thought the chemotherapy would be the hard part but she was shocked at how awful the radiation was. Lady Ann offered a calm presence as she listened to the patient open up and share her unpleasant experience. After her past experiences, the patient was now afraid that she would not be properly prepared for a potentially painful four to five hours. Lady Ann validated her past experiences and began to slowly and carefully explain what to expect throughout the entire process. She reassured the patient that there should be no acute pain during apheresis, thoroughly explaining any possible side effects and what the nursing staff can do in response to each side effect. Lady Ann’s empathetic approach resulted in the patient feeling comfortable proceeding with the therapy and visibly less apprehensive.
I witnessed Lady Ann go out of her way to make sure her patient had everything she needed, from a warm blanket to a comforting word. She is truly invested in her patients' well-being and takes the time to build meaningful connections with each and every one of them.
What sets Lady Ann apart is her unwavering dedication to her patients. Overall, I believe that Lady Ann is an exceptional nurse who truly embodies the spirit of the DAISY Award. She is a credit to our profession, and I am proud to call her my colleague.