Fall
2003
Adel consistently sets the highest level of quality of care and patient service in numerous ways. She seems to go beyond the call of duty to make sure the patient’s needs are met and the family concerns are taken care of. She doesn’t mind “rolling up her sleeves to work”, whether the task is routine or emergent.
One peer recalls Adel as her preceptor when she re-entered nursing 5 years ago. “She took a personal interest in me and guided me through the orientation process over several weeks. Not only did she set an example for me with a keen attention to detail in patient care, critical thinking, and organizing, but she took an interest in me as a nurse, and also as a person. She cared for the personal struggles I was encountering and assisted me emotionally and professionally. Since then I have observed her continue this process with many of nurses in all walks of life. There has been a crisis in the shortage in nursing all over the country, but Adel has found to key to making the workplace a safe and enjoyable place by her personal attention and care to not only patients, but to nurses. I have found a home at St. David’s because of the example and care of nurses like Adel.” Adel most often functions as the Supervisor on the Telemetry/IMC units. She has gone to extra mile to immerse herself in educational opportunities so that she can serve as the leader on the unit.
A Graduate from The Austin Community College Mobility Tract Adel is an active member of AACN and attended the NTI conference in San Antonio last Spring. She is “THE GO TO PERSON” on the unit for nurses and MD’s alike. She was the 2002 Nursing Excellence Award Winner for SDMC and has recently been selected as the 2003 Caregiver of the Year.
Adel
Austin
Austin, Texas
She has been observed listening to MD, family and patient complaints with a calm, compassionate composure trying to make everything “right” or find a better way to “get it done”.
She has been observed directing distraught visitors to various destinations, offering a wheelchair if needed. She attends not only to the needs of the patients, but also the employees, including ancillary departments. She takes a personal interest and expresses concerns about the problems in their lives. Adel is very sympathetic of other’s needs, even if it means adjusting her personal schedule. Just a couple of weeks ago she offered to work the weekend so a co-worker could visit a relative, sacrificing time at her son’s out of town tournament.
Adel has an amazing way of communicating with all disciplines within the facility. She is able to do this because she has such great respect from her co-workers. Adel strongly defends the care and rights of her patients. She is the first to call or write to make changes in a policy or routine that does not benefit the patient.
Nurses rely on Adel’s sense of humor to diffuse tense situations. She has the ability to focus on the big picture while caring and addressing the details in life that affect both coworkers and patients.
Adel consistently displays a willingness to go the extra mile to make sure that the patient and visitors needs are met. She conducts a daily case management/social service meeting to discuss discharge planning for all of the patients. This meeting was cited as “best practice” by an outside agency observing the process. Adel exhibits a non-judgmental, insightful, and holistic way of interacting with patients and their families. It is this approach that allows her to draw information from the patient that reveals what is really going on in their lives. This information is extremely valuable in determining the type of follow-up care that the patient will need.
Adel’s day-to-day performance is dependable, consistent, and customer oriented. She creatively finds a way to staff the unit, despite the on-going shortage of nurses. She is known for coming in on her day off to work on the schedule, re-arrange supplies, and to help with the recent monitor installation. She is spectacular to watch in action. There are few that can keep up with her. She encourages her staff when things are tough and praises them for even the smallest triumphs.
The physicians respect her as a respected professional and they know that when she calls they ‘d better listen. All who come into contact with Adel walk away with a feeling that they are truly cared about as an individual. She has truly make an incredible difference to all of the employees on the Telemetry and IMC unit with her attitude of going the extra mile, taking the extra effort, and the extra time to do the right thing for patients and staff
Submitted By
- Gail
Acuna, for St David's Healthcare Partnership