Heather Blackwell
June 2023
Heather
Blackwell
,
RN, BSN
Float Pool
Mercy Hospital Oklahoma City
Oklahoma City
,
OK
United States
Heather made sure she was in the room with the patient so he would not be alone when he passed.
There isn't just one reason Heather Blackwell deserves the DAISY nomination but a multitude of reasons. She has been with Mercy since 2017, started as an LPN, and has now obtained her RN-BSN. Let me share a few things that make Heather so extraordinary.
Presence: She has a permeating presence. Her smile, her laugh, her genuine care for patients, families, and co-workers. The relationships she builds with others, everyone. She does not meet a stranger. And with that, she will go out of her way to make sure you are happy, and feel like you are part of the team. She encourages everyone to be the best version of themselves. She is a great example of a Mercy nurse.
Asset: Leaders request having her on their unit. They appreciate what she brings to their team: positivity, can-do attitude, a natural leader and teacher, and respectful relationships with co-workers and physicians. She wears many hats in our hospital. She can step in and fill the shoes of med/surg nurse, charge nurse, and ED nurse. She is also the "go-to" IV start. Many other opportunities await her because so many see the value in her as a co-worker and asset to the team.
Flexible: Boy, has she been flexible to meet the needs of the hospital. She has flip-flopped her schedule from day shift to night shift to help the units cover their department needs. She will sign up extra, always when she knows staffing is challenged. She extends her shifts to 16 hours because she doesn't want to leave the next shift short-handed.
Teammate: Let me tell you just how much people love working with this amazing nurse. She recently picked up a night shift weekend to be a charge nurse on 4AB. She was initially the only one scheduled. She recruited her day shift teammates to work nights with her and they did! After one of the shifts, she took her team and treated them to breakfast to show her appreciation.
Heather, you put your heart and soul into nursing and caring for your patients, families, and teammates. You truly are EXTRAORDINARY! You value your patients beyond measure. You make sure they have everything they need.
In one sacred moment, Heather was caring for an inpatient hospice patient that had been with us for a few days already. Heather noticed the patient’s vital signs and breathing changed. She called the family to update them and see if they were coming to the hospital. The family was unable to make it. Heather made herself a desk in the patient's room and sat with the patient. She talked to him and played different gospel songs. Heather made sure she was in the room with the patient so he would not be alone when he passed.
Presence: She has a permeating presence. Her smile, her laugh, her genuine care for patients, families, and co-workers. The relationships she builds with others, everyone. She does not meet a stranger. And with that, she will go out of her way to make sure you are happy, and feel like you are part of the team. She encourages everyone to be the best version of themselves. She is a great example of a Mercy nurse.
Asset: Leaders request having her on their unit. They appreciate what she brings to their team: positivity, can-do attitude, a natural leader and teacher, and respectful relationships with co-workers and physicians. She wears many hats in our hospital. She can step in and fill the shoes of med/surg nurse, charge nurse, and ED nurse. She is also the "go-to" IV start. Many other opportunities await her because so many see the value in her as a co-worker and asset to the team.
Flexible: Boy, has she been flexible to meet the needs of the hospital. She has flip-flopped her schedule from day shift to night shift to help the units cover their department needs. She will sign up extra, always when she knows staffing is challenged. She extends her shifts to 16 hours because she doesn't want to leave the next shift short-handed.
Teammate: Let me tell you just how much people love working with this amazing nurse. She recently picked up a night shift weekend to be a charge nurse on 4AB. She was initially the only one scheduled. She recruited her day shift teammates to work nights with her and they did! After one of the shifts, she took her team and treated them to breakfast to show her appreciation.
Heather, you put your heart and soul into nursing and caring for your patients, families, and teammates. You truly are EXTRAORDINARY! You value your patients beyond measure. You make sure they have everything they need.
In one sacred moment, Heather was caring for an inpatient hospice patient that had been with us for a few days already. Heather noticed the patient’s vital signs and breathing changed. She called the family to update them and see if they were coming to the hospital. The family was unable to make it. Heather made herself a desk in the patient's room and sat with the patient. She talked to him and played different gospel songs. Heather made sure she was in the room with the patient so he would not be alone when he passed.