During National Nurses Week, we pay tribute to the daily journeys our nursing teams take with their patients. They share in their patients’ happiest moments and most difficult times. They are committed each and every day to the work of Florence Nightingale as they heal, treat and support their patients.
While we recognize all of our nursing teams for their essential roles here at WellSpan, we also congratulate the entire nursing staff at WellSpan Good Samaritan Hospital for recently being honored as Health Care Heroes from Central Penn Business Journal.
Selected in the “Nursing Hero” category, all of the clinical and support nursing staff will be celebrated during a virtual ceremony later this month by the business journal.
Typically, this award goes to an individual each year. But this past year was far from typical.
For Patricia Donley, R.N., vice president, Patient Care Services and chief nursing officer at WellSpan Good Samaritan Hospital, it was more fitting for her to nominate the entire nursing team for their commitment, rather than to nominate one nurse over another, especially during the past year.
“This has not been a year of individuals, because not one of us could do this alone,” she said. “This is a year in which no one stands above another. Rather, we stand together. This year, every nurse earned the title of healthcare hero.”
During the nomination process, Donley interviewed countless nurses, many of whom were redeployed to help where they were needed most. She took notes, accumulating their challenges and most rewording experiences and then conveyed it all on the nomination form.
“The Coronavirus global pandemic created challenges unlike most of us in healthcare have experienced before, but it also demonstrated the extraordinary value that the nursing profession provides to the healthcare delivery system,” Donley wrote of her team.
She heard the most incredible stories.
“I knew our team was awesome, I know what they do every day, but when I asked those questions, I heard stories that I thought were amazing,” she said.
Why go into the nursing profession: A mutual answer from Donley’s staff members was that it was their calling: “I didn’t choose nursing. Rather, nursing chose me.”
Most significant personal accomplishment: Donley heard from a nurse about a special connection she held with one of her cancer patients. Since visitors weren’t allowed in the hospital or the outpatient clinic due to the pandemic, this nurse came in on her day off to be with her cancer patient during the patient’s first chemotherapy treatment.
“She rode in the ambulance on the way to the patient’s first treatment, Donley said. “She sat with her patient and held her hand during the entire treatment.”
Through all of this, you realize the difference you make in people’s lives.
Most challenging times: “These nurses held the hands of dying patients so they were not alone at the end. They created innovative solutions to allow loved ones to connect with their family members. They redeployed willingly to units most in need. They cheered in the hallways when patients beat the odds and were discharged after long ICU stays. And, they cried with each other when sometimes it felt like they could not endure one more shift.”
In addition, they also provided comprehensive care to vulnerable populations experiencing barriers related to language or access to care and provided community outreach to assure that each member of the community was educated on COVID-19 care and prevention.
Most rewarding times: “The WellSpan Good Samaritan nursing team finalized an American Nurses Credentialing Center Pathway to Excellence application, filling over 800 pages with examples and stories of the professional environment this group of nurses has created to provide compassionate, holistic care to the members of the Lebanon Community.”
They received word in September that they were granted this designation.
“The group emotionally recognized the contributions of each nurse, whether inpatient or outpatient, critical care or surgery, to create the team that has become a second family during this difficult time,” Donley said.