March 2011
Cynthia
Howard
,
RN
Cardiac Interventional Telemetry Unit (CITU)
Adventist Health Glendale
Glendale
,
CA
United States

 

 

 

I keep putting off writing this note until I have more time. Since that day never seems to come, I’m writing it today, ‘come hell or high water’. Last November 7, 2010, I was admitted to GAMC via the ED for a diagnosis of pneumonia. I ended up having a clot in my heard and had a stent placement. I spent 6 days at GAMC, and all my encounters with people in nursing were very positive. I believe I wrote at least 25 thank you notes to the nurses who cared for me.
What I want to share with you is about the nurse who impacted me the most during my hospital stay. After my brush with a potentially bad outcome and a stent placement, I was feeling especially vulnerable. Following the stent placement I was placed in the cardiac interventional unit. During my three days there, I had the same nurse on the day shift. Her name is Cynthia Howard, RN. She was so proactive and reassuring. Cynthia made me feel like she would walk to the ‘gates of hell’ and back to make sure I was getting the proper medical care. That sense that I had of a “nurse warrior” protecting me from what might befall me in the hospital environment was so valuable to me. I have all the respect in the world for Cynthia and her nursing practice style.


Cynthia started working at GAMC May 2008 and was recruited to CITU in April 2009. She completed the nursing program at Mt Saint Mary's College with ADN. She loves nursing because she has a passion for helping people, and as a nurse she gets a first hand opportunity to help the ill. When you ask her why she loves nursing she tells you, "because it is rewarding when the patients and families are grateful that a nurse took the time to listen, care, educate and explain things to them." Once when I asked her why she drives all the way from Rancho Cucamonga to work here, she told me that she loves the diversity of patients and employees, that the environment at GAMC is always warm, and that she can definitely feel the presence of God in this hospital. You can count on Cynthia to be the patients' advocate. She does not shy away from work and puts forth her best to provide for her patients’ needs.


Cynthia is most deserving of this recognition with the DAISY Award for her exemplary nursing service.