Last week, we concluded our National Nurses’ Week celebration by announcing the recipient of the inaugural Kathleen Redmond Educational Award. Kathleen Redmond was a nurse on 2A who died unexpectedly at the age of 27 in May 2012. Her family generously endowed the Kathleen Redmond Educational Fund to honor Kathleen’s example of patient advocacy. The fund supports further nurse education in the area of patient advocacy. Nominees for the Kathleen Redmond Award are recognized by a member of the Service Excellence Team or a Nurse Director for consistently demonstrating the following attributes that Kathleen espoused daily: [more]
- Anticipates the physical and/or emotional needs of the patient or family and takes action to meet those needs.
- Spends time with patients and families to actively listen to their concerns.
- Verbally acknowledges the feelings and opinions of patients in a nonjudgmental, compassionate manner and is able to separate his or her personal feelings, beliefs and opinions.
- Actively engages the patients as active members of their own health-care decision making team. Encourages the patient to be involved in decision making and goal setting.
- Protects the patient’s right and is willing to professionally confront others—regardless of role—to advocate on behalf of the patient.
- Recognized by others as caring, compassionate and empathetic to all patients.
Congratulations to the 2013 recipient of the Kathleen Redmond Educational Fund Award, Rachael Strong, RN, 2A! Rachel was chosen based upon the following nomination:
I nominate Rachael Strong because she tirelessly takes care of her patients and their families with a smile on her face and kind calming words much like Kathleen did. She values her patients and is conscientious of their needs. She goes to great lengths to be sure that she listens to her patients and doesn’t judge them. An example of this was a patient on her floor that chose not have a biopsy for personal and religious beliefs. The patient didn’t trust anyone and she was very guarded with her information. She refused medications and care as well as resisting all attempts by the caregivers to gain her trust. Rachael established a relationship with this patient by acknowledging her feelings and opinions; as a result she gained the trust of this patient and the patient listened to the reasons why her doctor wanted to do a biopsy. The patient was usually compliant with her medications and care when Rachael was her assigned nurse because she didn’t feel any pressure from her. As a result Rachael would always take the assignment of this patient when she was scheduled to work. She made sure this patients rights were protected by involving the appropriate people in the decision making process regarding the patient's health.
Rachael never makes her patients or their families feel that she doesn’t have the time to answer questions or provide assistance. She is consistently kind and concerned about the well-being of her patients. She has been complimented by patients for going above and beyond in the care she provides (i.e. patience, listening, explaining things to them in terms that can be understood and comforting them).
Many times I have seen her assigned or volunteer to take care of the difficult patients and families. She doesn’t let this affect her day; she works even harder to meet their needs, striving to provide the best possible care. Rachael demonstrates on a daily basis many of the traits that made Kathleen such a wonderful nurse; caring, compassionate, empathetic and loving in the care that she provides to her patients.
Mr. and Mrs. Redmond and Rachael Strong, RN.
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