April 2015
Denise
Pudney
,
BS
Cardiac Rehab
Upstate University Hospital
Syracuse
,
NY
United States

 

 

 

Denise Killius Pudney has been an extraordinary nurse, indeed. Her expertise in cardiac rehab is second to none. Her empathetic attitude toward patient care and acumen in quick recognition of any objective change in a patient's condition either, physical or electrocardiographic or biochemical, before, during, or after a cardiac rehab session are first class, no doubt. During the rehab session, any change in the patient's condition she brings it to the attention of the attending cardiologist immediately for action and communicates with the patient's own medical provider promptly by phone calls and by faxing the details to their office for further management as soon as possible.

She keeps the exercising machines scrupulously clean with antiseptics and maintains immaculate, detailed records of all cardiac rehab patients who really develop lot of fondness and regards for her. Denise well deserves the DAISY award for her superior performance, caring concern, and excellent interpersonal relationships. Denise has had many examples showing her thoughtful vigilance in patient care.

A Russian patient who did not speak a word of English and a young woman interpreter waited on him during most of his Cardiac Rehab sessions. That morning after the last item of exercise as he started the "recovery" process when Denise felt that he suddenly did not look right (although he did not complain of anything or indicate any untoward physical feeling) and came rushing to the EKG Monitor. I was watching the monitor and also noticed abrupt development of very fast SVT that needed immediate termination-- luckily manual Carotid Sinus stimulation was rapidly successful for resumption of normal sinus rhythm. She carefully monitored his physical condition very objectively and was asking him carefully through the interpreter for any subjective symptoms and then called his Cardiologist's office to inform them and faxed a copy of the onset and termination of that fast SVT in that patient with bad Heart Disease.

I was pleasantly surprised to watch the promptness of her caring concern. Our patients are, indeed, in good hands!