July 2025 Honoree
Jillian Donovan, RN, BSN, CEN
Jillian sits down next to her patients and explains what she is doing and why. No matter how many questions are asked, Jillian answers until she knows everyone understands the plan. I work in the ED and get to witness our amazing caregivers in action. My mother-in-law has been in the ED several times recently. Every physician, nurse, and tech has always given her the best care. P is 89 and has always been very independent. Over the last few years, she has lost all that independence, and it has been very difficult for her. She is usually unhappy when she has to come to the hospital.
During one of her most recent ED visits, Jillian was her nurse. Jillian could tell P wasn't happy to be there. She talked to her and helped her relax. I mentioned to P that Jillian has miniature donkeys, one of P's favorite things! From that point on, Jillian was her best friend. Jillian took the time to sit with P and tell her all about her donkeys while doing the things P dislikes most about coming to the hospital (needle pokes, etc.). P told Jillian about her love for the animals, even though she had never seen one up close, and that she donates to a foundation that rescues donkeys. P was admitted and, throughout her stay, talked about that dark-haired nurse in the ED who loves donkeys just like she does!
When P was discharged home, she got some items the donkey rescue had sent her, calendars and such, and asked me to give them to Jillian at work. Jillian was as excited to receive them as P was to give them. After another ED visit and hospital stay a couple of weeks later, Jillian asked me how P was doing. I told her that she had suffered several more falls and was having to go to rehab at Living Community and was not very happy. I jokingly asked Jillian to send me pictures of her donkeys so I could hang them in P's room. She said she absolutely would. Later that day, Jillian came to me and asked if it would be okay if she just brought some donkeys to see P! Absolutely! We set up a time, and P was like a kid waiting for Christmas. Those donkeys could not come soon enough.
On Monday, Jillian did as she said she would and came to Living Community with Biscuits and Pedro, the mini donkeys! Not only was it her day off and over 90 degrees outside, but Jillian lives in Stanberry, MO, so she drove an hour each way just to share something with P. She also made sure that Pedro and Biscuits were bathed and ready for a visit. Jillian and her daughter walked those donkeys to where P was waiting and absolutely made her day. Not only P's, but several staff members, other residents, and their families. I cannot put into words what it meant to P's family that a stranger who was only doing her job taking care of our loved one would do this. We offered to pay for her gas, her time, donkey treats, etc. Jillian would have none of it. She just wanted to do something nice. I have witnessed Jillian s compassion and ability to connect with her patients before. But this I felt. We may not have a lot more time with our P, but we will always have the pictures of P, Pedro, and Biscuits thanks to that dark-haired nurse in the ED that loves donkeys as much as she does!
***
I received a call from the Ask a Nurse requesting that I call her back for critical lab results. I was instructed to go to the ED due to the fact that I had hypokalemia. I was informed I would probably be admitted and would more than likely be started on an IV. I was very anxious, to say the least! After the triage nurse did my vitals and drew my blood, I was taken back to the ED. I was being taken back at shift change. An angel was sent from above: Jillian Donovan was so calming and compassionate. She knew that I was very anxious. We were talking about my anxiety and what was going on. She recognized how I was feeling and put me at ease. I anticipated that, since it was shift change, I would be getting another nurse. She reassured me that she wasn't leaving me until they got my IV started and made sure that I was doing ok. It was comforting to know someone cared enough about their patient to stay with them even though their shift was ending. I did get admitted to the hospital and am doing better.
In June 2025, I started working for Mosaic and ran into Jillian twice. She was so sweet to remember me. She gave me a big hug and told me that I was looking much better! I know these nurses see a lot of people every day, and the fact that she remembered me really touched me. I was having a really rough couple of months, and she really seemed to grasp what I was going through. She has a servant's heart and deep compassion for her patients and her work. She truly deserves the DAISY Award!
During one of her most recent ED visits, Jillian was her nurse. Jillian could tell P wasn't happy to be there. She talked to her and helped her relax. I mentioned to P that Jillian has miniature donkeys, one of P's favorite things! From that point on, Jillian was her best friend. Jillian took the time to sit with P and tell her all about her donkeys while doing the things P dislikes most about coming to the hospital (needle pokes, etc.). P told Jillian about her love for the animals, even though she had never seen one up close, and that she donates to a foundation that rescues donkeys. P was admitted and, throughout her stay, talked about that dark-haired nurse in the ED who loves donkeys just like she does!
When P was discharged home, she got some items the donkey rescue had sent her, calendars and such, and asked me to give them to Jillian at work. Jillian was as excited to receive them as P was to give them. After another ED visit and hospital stay a couple of weeks later, Jillian asked me how P was doing. I told her that she had suffered several more falls and was having to go to rehab at Living Community and was not very happy. I jokingly asked Jillian to send me pictures of her donkeys so I could hang them in P's room. She said she absolutely would. Later that day, Jillian came to me and asked if it would be okay if she just brought some donkeys to see P! Absolutely! We set up a time, and P was like a kid waiting for Christmas. Those donkeys could not come soon enough.
On Monday, Jillian did as she said she would and came to Living Community with Biscuits and Pedro, the mini donkeys! Not only was it her day off and over 90 degrees outside, but Jillian lives in Stanberry, MO, so she drove an hour each way just to share something with P. She also made sure that Pedro and Biscuits were bathed and ready for a visit. Jillian and her daughter walked those donkeys to where P was waiting and absolutely made her day. Not only P's, but several staff members, other residents, and their families. I cannot put into words what it meant to P's family that a stranger who was only doing her job taking care of our loved one would do this. We offered to pay for her gas, her time, donkey treats, etc. Jillian would have none of it. She just wanted to do something nice. I have witnessed Jillian s compassion and ability to connect with her patients before. But this I felt. We may not have a lot more time with our P, but we will always have the pictures of P, Pedro, and Biscuits thanks to that dark-haired nurse in the ED that loves donkeys as much as she does!
***
I received a call from the Ask a Nurse requesting that I call her back for critical lab results. I was instructed to go to the ED due to the fact that I had hypokalemia. I was informed I would probably be admitted and would more than likely be started on an IV. I was very anxious, to say the least! After the triage nurse did my vitals and drew my blood, I was taken back to the ED. I was being taken back at shift change. An angel was sent from above: Jillian Donovan was so calming and compassionate. She knew that I was very anxious. We were talking about my anxiety and what was going on. She recognized how I was feeling and put me at ease. I anticipated that, since it was shift change, I would be getting another nurse. She reassured me that she wasn't leaving me until they got my IV started and made sure that I was doing ok. It was comforting to know someone cared enough about their patient to stay with them even though their shift was ending. I did get admitted to the hospital and am doing better.
In June 2025, I started working for Mosaic and ran into Jillian twice. She was so sweet to remember me. She gave me a big hug and told me that I was looking much better! I know these nurses see a lot of people every day, and the fact that she remembered me really touched me. I was having a really rough couple of months, and she really seemed to grasp what I was going through. She has a servant's heart and deep compassion for her patients and her work. She truly deserves the DAISY Award!
Thank you, Jillian, for your exceptional compassion, advocacy, and dedication to your patients. You truly make a difference.
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