Diana
Tam
September 2012
Diana
Tam
,
RN, BSN
GI Chemotherapy
Memorial Sloan Kettering Cancer Center
New York
,
NY
United States
Diana Tam’s DAISY Award Nomination Letters:
Diana stands out as a shining star on our unit. She has worked at Memorial for seven years, working inpatient on M7 for two years then outpatient GI chemo for 5 years. As a Clinical Nurse III, she has demonstrated leadership skills acting as charge nurse weekly, precepting new staff, and possesses strong interpersonal communication skills with both colleagues and patients; our unit is very lucky to have her!
Outpatient nurses see a lot of patients on a consistent basis, weekly, bi-weekly. Diana has developed a devoted fan base of patients requesting her to be their nurse. She has strong expertise with starting difficult IV’s, exceptional multitasking skills being able to manage complex chemotherapy and research protocol regimen. She has a strong knowledge base of the disease process patients are diagnosed with on GI chemo. She is full of energy and dedicated to delivering exceptional patient care. She demonstrates outstanding clinical skills including knowledge, technical competence and compassion.
Diana cares for a patient who had difficulty with her Codman pump post placement with development of a seroma and always requests to have Diana work with her. This patient feels comfortable with her, raves about the expertise and ease at which she delivers patient care. Her professionalism dealing with patients and colleagues resonates in everything that she does. She is empathetic handling challenging situations, discussing difficult news, and is always thorough and meticulous with patient teaching. She is a true role model on our unit.
…
I was in charge on the GI chemotherapy unit and needed someone to cover me while I went on my lunch break. Diana is always more than willing to lend a helping hand to help her fellow co-workers; she was willing to perform the roll.
Another colleague had an elderly patient in her 70’s who was found to be depressed upon assessment. The patient explained that she had the worst weekend; she feels lonely, depressed and has no family close by. The patient had a social work consult in the past but never a psych consult. Upon further assessment her nurse asked the patient if she ever thought about harming herself and the patient said “yes, all the time.” She then notified Diana, who was in charge. She came immediately to the room and the patient was placed on one to one observation. All objects the patient could potentially use to inflict self harm were removed by Diana while the nurse left the room to notify the Attending, social worker and nurse manager.
The patient was upset with her nurse who was performing her duty to report and the patient was notified that she had to go to urgent care for a psych evaluation. The patient was upset that she had to go but Diana skillfully provided extensive emotional comfort and psychological support to the patient. The patient was receptive to Diana’s professional, calm and reassuring demeanor. Her disposition displayed strength and encouragement to support a difficult situation for both her colleague and the patient.
…
Perhaps the story of Mr. F will demonstrate the how Diana Tam embodies the characteristics of the DAISY Award. She establishes a special connection with patients and families through trust and emotional support.
It is neither a sad story nor one of great heroics – but a story of constancy and connection. Mr F was diagnosed with colon cancer five years ago. He has been coming to 53rd Street’s 4th floor GI Chemotherapy Suite every two weeks for those five years and the overwhelming majority of his treatments have been administered by Diana. Over the course of those many months a relationship has been forged as Diana listened, intervened and supported him as he lived his life with cancer coloring his world. Mr F says he looks forward to his chemotherapy and connecting with “his nurse” – which is how he puts it, Diana Tam. She appreciates and rejoices in the intimate details of his life including the story of how he and his wife met on Fire Island, raised a family and recently married off his daughter and then his son; how important his cars and dog is to him, how he loves to gamble – he has learned to be grateful for every day.
Diana has a special talent for being able to find that special connection with a patient – for Mr F it has been humor and during the course of his bi-weekly 3 hr treatments, you can hear them laughing and enjoying each other’s company. Mr F has been lucky and he knows it as he has experienced few if any of the side effects of his chemotherapy. However there have been some hurdles which they worked through together, such as living/working as a real estate developer with his Dosifusor attached to his MediPort over 48 hours every two weeks for 5 years. He is also morbidly obese with diabetes. Diana has instructed and encouraged him with regard to nutrition and lifestyle and with her encouragement he took up golf. His wife has recently started a new job so that she will no longer be able to come with Mr F for his chemotherapy but she told Diana that she takes comfort and is assured knowing that he will be cared for by Diana.
Just recently Mr F experienced a progression of his disease for the first time in five years. It is very scary for both he and his wife; together and separately they have discussed with Diana their fears and trepidations. After discussing his case with Dr. K, she has blended hope with realism, focusing on what is while preparing them for what may possibly be. Diana has been able to offer the specialized skills of our social worker which they do not feel they need at this time but are glad to know of the availability.
In summary, Diana Tam, has the unique ability to blend her professional knowledge and skills with compassion for those within her care. Through her assessment skills, she is always able to find that certain variable that connects her to the patient and family. Mr. F could probably write a book about Diana and his Dosifusor but as he says, “Diana has made all the difference for me and my wife….. And if you could say my chemotherapy was enjoyable, well she has made it so and I am so very grateful to her. She is simply the best!”
…
Diana spread enthusiasm and led the effort to nominate the GI chemotherapy nurses for Advance Nursing Magazine’s “Best Nursing Team.” Our unit came in second place through all of Diana’s hard work and efforts. Our unit was photographed and featured in the magazine.
Congratulations Diana!
Diana stands out as a shining star on our unit. She has worked at Memorial for seven years, working inpatient on M7 for two years then outpatient GI chemo for 5 years. As a Clinical Nurse III, she has demonstrated leadership skills acting as charge nurse weekly, precepting new staff, and possesses strong interpersonal communication skills with both colleagues and patients; our unit is very lucky to have her!
Outpatient nurses see a lot of patients on a consistent basis, weekly, bi-weekly. Diana has developed a devoted fan base of patients requesting her to be their nurse. She has strong expertise with starting difficult IV’s, exceptional multitasking skills being able to manage complex chemotherapy and research protocol regimen. She has a strong knowledge base of the disease process patients are diagnosed with on GI chemo. She is full of energy and dedicated to delivering exceptional patient care. She demonstrates outstanding clinical skills including knowledge, technical competence and compassion.
Diana cares for a patient who had difficulty with her Codman pump post placement with development of a seroma and always requests to have Diana work with her. This patient feels comfortable with her, raves about the expertise and ease at which she delivers patient care. Her professionalism dealing with patients and colleagues resonates in everything that she does. She is empathetic handling challenging situations, discussing difficult news, and is always thorough and meticulous with patient teaching. She is a true role model on our unit.
…
I was in charge on the GI chemotherapy unit and needed someone to cover me while I went on my lunch break. Diana is always more than willing to lend a helping hand to help her fellow co-workers; she was willing to perform the roll.
Another colleague had an elderly patient in her 70’s who was found to be depressed upon assessment. The patient explained that she had the worst weekend; she feels lonely, depressed and has no family close by. The patient had a social work consult in the past but never a psych consult. Upon further assessment her nurse asked the patient if she ever thought about harming herself and the patient said “yes, all the time.” She then notified Diana, who was in charge. She came immediately to the room and the patient was placed on one to one observation. All objects the patient could potentially use to inflict self harm were removed by Diana while the nurse left the room to notify the Attending, social worker and nurse manager.
The patient was upset with her nurse who was performing her duty to report and the patient was notified that she had to go to urgent care for a psych evaluation. The patient was upset that she had to go but Diana skillfully provided extensive emotional comfort and psychological support to the patient. The patient was receptive to Diana’s professional, calm and reassuring demeanor. Her disposition displayed strength and encouragement to support a difficult situation for both her colleague and the patient.
…
Perhaps the story of Mr. F will demonstrate the how Diana Tam embodies the characteristics of the DAISY Award. She establishes a special connection with patients and families through trust and emotional support.
It is neither a sad story nor one of great heroics – but a story of constancy and connection. Mr F was diagnosed with colon cancer five years ago. He has been coming to 53rd Street’s 4th floor GI Chemotherapy Suite every two weeks for those five years and the overwhelming majority of his treatments have been administered by Diana. Over the course of those many months a relationship has been forged as Diana listened, intervened and supported him as he lived his life with cancer coloring his world. Mr F says he looks forward to his chemotherapy and connecting with “his nurse” – which is how he puts it, Diana Tam. She appreciates and rejoices in the intimate details of his life including the story of how he and his wife met on Fire Island, raised a family and recently married off his daughter and then his son; how important his cars and dog is to him, how he loves to gamble – he has learned to be grateful for every day.
Diana has a special talent for being able to find that special connection with a patient – for Mr F it has been humor and during the course of his bi-weekly 3 hr treatments, you can hear them laughing and enjoying each other’s company. Mr F has been lucky and he knows it as he has experienced few if any of the side effects of his chemotherapy. However there have been some hurdles which they worked through together, such as living/working as a real estate developer with his Dosifusor attached to his MediPort over 48 hours every two weeks for 5 years. He is also morbidly obese with diabetes. Diana has instructed and encouraged him with regard to nutrition and lifestyle and with her encouragement he took up golf. His wife has recently started a new job so that she will no longer be able to come with Mr F for his chemotherapy but she told Diana that she takes comfort and is assured knowing that he will be cared for by Diana.
Just recently Mr F experienced a progression of his disease for the first time in five years. It is very scary for both he and his wife; together and separately they have discussed with Diana their fears and trepidations. After discussing his case with Dr. K, she has blended hope with realism, focusing on what is while preparing them for what may possibly be. Diana has been able to offer the specialized skills of our social worker which they do not feel they need at this time but are glad to know of the availability.
In summary, Diana Tam, has the unique ability to blend her professional knowledge and skills with compassion for those within her care. Through her assessment skills, she is always able to find that certain variable that connects her to the patient and family. Mr. F could probably write a book about Diana and his Dosifusor but as he says, “Diana has made all the difference for me and my wife….. And if you could say my chemotherapy was enjoyable, well she has made it so and I am so very grateful to her. She is simply the best!”
…
Diana spread enthusiasm and led the effort to nominate the GI chemotherapy nurses for Advance Nursing Magazine’s “Best Nursing Team.” Our unit came in second place through all of Diana’s hard work and efforts. Our unit was photographed and featured in the magazine.
Congratulations Diana!