We are pleased to announce the winners of the 2008 Nurses’ Week Essay Contest. There were a total of 27 entries and we want to acknowledge all of the entries throughout MHS. The panel of judges found it very challenging to determine the top entries because all nurses that participated in this contest did an excellent job portraying our theme this year – “Nursing: Making a Difference Every Day”. To read the winning essays click on the available links below. Thank you to everyone who participated.
Michele Patterson, Past SNLB Chair
Cynthia Coleman, SNLB Chair
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Nursing Administration recently received the following commendations from patients. I take great pride in knowing that our staff are providing such excellent care.
Our family has truly been blessed in receiving a strong and healthy heart through organ donation. This has given “Johnny” an opportunity at a new chance of life, but it has also given us more time to enjoy our dad, and grandfather.
We could not have imagined the outpouring of support that flowed from every person we encountered, from the Transplant Team to food service.
Please know we are extremely grateful for these skills, caring and compassion exhibited by the team as a whole. You were our rock in the middle of a storm.
Thank you for giving our dad another chance at life. You did not only give back our father… you gave back a husband, a father, a grandfather, a great-grandfather and a brother.
I have been out of your hospital for 1 week and wanted to thank you for the people who took care of me.I would like a copy of this letter put in each ones file to be review at their evaluations.
I know that it takes everyone to produce such a quality organization.Just because these are the only ones who touched me or my family (or that I was awake to meet) doesn’t negate the efforts of everyone else.I understand this and know that you will too.
The first person I met (at 4:30am!) was a nice supervisor in surgical admitting.She was patient and kind to us in our nervousness.She walked us all the way to surgery and even though I can’t remember her name (please know I know you can figure it out), she set the stage for the day, the experience and, I believe, my outcome.
Once we got to surgery, everything kicked into overtime.Another nice lady got me dressed (or undressed), explained the papers I signed, and made sure all my tests were done required for surgery.I want to say her name was Rose or Rosemary.I believe it was nervousness that keeps me from remembering but I know you can find her.She was so calming, so effortless.She deserves to be appreciated.
Of course I saw my doctors and they were the best God could put in my path.I will thank them separate from this letter but I know those that assisted my doctors deserve appreciation too.I was just asleep and can’t remember them.But their contributions are no less because of this (and really are probably the most important).
The next group to enter my experience there was the Recovery group.The first lady assigned to me was wonderful.I can’t remember her name but you must find her.She was soothing and attentive.Her strength was like a hand helping me through the fog to understanding and wakefulness.When her shift ended she turned me over to Tim, a male nurse.I was in Recovery quite a while as you searched for an opening in ICU to send me.Tim and I had a lively conversation to pass the time.We have direct opposite opinions but he helped “jump-start” my brain and I realized due to this that my surgery hadn’t affected anything else up there!Cindy, your Recovery liaison, is perfect for her job!What a jewel!!I overheard her talking to my sons (13 & 19 yrs.) after they saw me the first time.She was reassuring matter-of-fact and comforting all at once.I know my sons benefited greatly from her assurance.
It was late the evening of my surgery when I was moved to the surgery ICU and put into the hands of Becky and then Charla.These two set the Tempo of my experience.Both were attentive and kind.This is when I started to realize the true level of care I was receiving at your facility.The food was wonderful, the attention was immediate and responses were thoughtful.I believe you have done an excellent job of getting the right people in the right jobs.
Next, I went to the 9th floor and into capable hands of Leslie, Gill,
Nancy, and Martha.They each touched my life and made my experience wonderful.The each did their job with compassion and intelligence.I don’t know if you are just lucky or smart to have attracted such quality people to your facility but I know I benefited form their care.
Of course, there were others who took blood or ran tests on me.Who woke me and did their job but I don’t remember their names.These people are no less important because of my back.A young black nurse by the name of Tracey I believe, comes to mind.She took my blood pressure several times and was cheerful and efficient each time we interacted.
Everyone I met was wonderful.There was not a single person I felt was “just doing a job”.They were all good to me and I wish there was more that I could do than just write this letter.But I wanted you to know that these people made a difference in my life (and experience there) and that they deserve recognition.Methodist Healthcare System also deserves recognition for attracting this quality of personnel.I know that human resources has become a title that is easy to overlook its real meaning.These people are really your resources in human form.You did good finding them and I hope if I ever need you again that they, or others of their quality, are still there.
I am an employee of Methodist Children’s Hospital and was recently seen in the Adult Emergency Room. I was in a lot of pain and I couldn’t get in to see any of my regular physicians due to the holidays. I would like to commend your ER staff for a pleasant visit. Labs, CT and US were all completed in a little over 2 hours. I especially want to thank the Charge Nurse, Kevin, the tech, Josiah, and my two nurses, Stephanie and Kevin. By the way, Dr. Wilson was very attentive and extremely nice too. I am really appreciative for the care I received.
I would like to recognize my nurse, Ken, who provided me with such kind, caring and professional care during my recent stay on NCCU. He exemplified for me what the vocation of nursing truly means. His quiet confidence and proactive response to my concerns helped me immensly to prepare for, endure, and recover from cranial surgery.
A recent cardiac event placed me as a patient in your hospital and into the hands of the angels on the Intermediate Cardiac Care Unit (ICCU-C). They held me in their wings and placed me close to their hearts – always there during those urgent moments. These beautiful caring ones attended every need with the hands of angels and sang the sweet song of assurance. I can not remember them as any less then loving, caring angels who served my heart and soul every need. My thanks and gratitude to these angels of mercy.
Our mother/grandmother was recently a patient on the NCCU. We would like to express our deepest gratitude and appreciation to the team of compassionate nurses who cared for her in her final days.
I am writing to inform you that your hospital has the best nursing staff that my wife and I have come in contact with. From the first moment we entered your hospital we were treated exceptionally well. After my wife’s surgery she was transferred to the NCCU. Although there was a waiting period for a room, once she was transferred the nurse, Sara, came out and introduced herself. She took great care when explaining my wife’s condition and what to expect when I reunited with her. She stated that my wife would be in the room momentarily and she would come and get me when she arrived. She also provided us a business card with the visiting hours but reassured us that since my wife’s surgery took much longer than expected she would be lenient. This gave me just enough time to comfort my wife before she rested for the duration of the night. Later that evening, we returned and were introduced to Ariana. She also provided excellent care for my wife. The next morning we were introduced to Susan, who proceeded to explain everything that she would be doing for the day to care for my wife. These nurses were very professional and dedicated to my wife as the patient. When she was transferred to a room on the 9th floor nothing changed. The nurses on this floor provided exceptional care for my wife. I could not have picked a better group of nurses like: Laura, Ferran, Vince, Daren and Barbara. Their dedication for my wife’s well being was impecable. I want at this time to also say that Gabriela, the Neuro Patient Care Advocate, was very helpful to my wife and me. Not only the nursing staff, but everyone that we came in contact with in your hospital, from the auxillary staff all the way up to the doctors were professional and courteous to us. Once again, I would like to give my sincere thanks for the way my wife and I were treated at such an emotional and trying time.
I just wanted to take a few minutes to thank the Methodist Hospital staff on the 5th floor, North Tower. My mother had a hernia repair and bowel resection. It was a very serious health issue. She stayed for eight days. The following staff did an exceptional job and I’m asking that you recognize them for a job well done: Angela (RN), Stella (LVN), Gina (RN), Laura (RN), Thomas (GN), Nick (PCA), Grace (PCA), the two female housekeepers and the Chaplaincy staff. All the above did an excellent job, but I want to specifically point out that Nick was always around when I needed some lifting assistance. He has such a good attitude and is very friendly. Our stay was more than manageable because of these fine professionals.
I just wanted to take the time to thank Raul (RN) for a job well done during my mother’s recent surgery. Mr. Garza was very friendly, compassionate and professional and his demeanor gave all of us comfort during this very stressful time. Please ensure that Raul is recognized for a job well done.
Belinda Urdiales is a nurse in the Emergency Department at Metropolitan Methodist Hospital. When we heard that part of her nursing essay was published in the New York Times, we asked her to tell us more about it.This is what she shared:“The New York times ran a Nurses’ Week essay contest during the month of May 2007.The theme of the essay was “Why nursing?”When I saw this, my first response was immediate, I wrote down my thoughts and submitted my 500 page essay not really expecting a response, after all this was the New York times…a place so huge and very far from my home here at Metro. My main intent was to release my own personal joy and satisfaction regarding my chosen profession. Feeling my essay was to be passed over I did not even submit my home phone or e-mail address for notification should my essay be chosen.Instead, I kept the date of June 10 in the back of my mind knowing that was the day the winning articles were to be published.When that day finally arrived I got online to read the article entitled- nursing diaries: Celebrating a History of Caring and Professionalism. As I read through each one I was impressed with the sincerity, the honesty and the care that jumped from the selected entries.My entry was the second to last.I was stunned to see my name/state listed underneath my essay. My 500 word essay was reduced to 7 sentences but to me that didn’t matter. What mattered most was the idea of my words, my thoughts, leaving an impression on others on what the meaning of nursing meant to me.”
From the New York Times, Sunday June, 10, 2007 issue:“Before entering the nursing profession, I had a fear of blood.Just the sight of a finger prick would make me dizzy. I know you’re wondering, ‘Why is this child entering the Florence Nightingale profession?’It wasn’t the money or the fame.It was conquering my hemophobia. It’s not easy, but I have not deterred in my chosen vocation.I wait for crises with an open mind, some M&M’s in my pocket a half-finished lunch and the belief in the miraculous.”
Belinda, Texas
HOW AWESOME IS THAT…HOW AWESOME IS NURSING!Congratulations Belinda!
I just learned that Michelle Wheland has successfully submitted and was approved for RN IV level. For those of you all who are newer…Michelle started in MICU as a unit secretary. She decided to start taking prereqs for nursing school. Then she was in the nursing school work program that the hospital offers. You work 32 hours and the hospital pays you 8 hours each week to study. While in school she was also a nurse extern in MICU. She graduated from San Antonio College with her RN degree and was accepted in the Critical Care internship. Now she is a bedside caregiver, team leader, preceptor, and 4 hours per week is spent in teaching and working on education projects for the 7 p.m. – 7 a.m shift. She is also involved in QI data projects.
I am very proud of her "keeping on and keeping on".
P.S. She is presently working on her BSN in Nursing.
