Kelly
Giammanco
March 2011
Kelly
Giammanco
,
RN
Cardiac Step Down
Morristown Medical Center
Morristown
,
NJ
United States
Kelly Giammanco truly exemplifies on a daily basis what bedside nursing is all about. She started her career as a nursing assistant over ten years ago and for the past ten years has been a RN on Cardiac Step Down. Her commitment in providing extraordinary care to her patients and family members is astonishing.
I would like to share briefly with you a specific day that I always keep in mind that truly explains and shows why she deserves to receive the DAISY Award.
I was working on the floor one day while she came in on her vacation week to work on her bachelor school work in a “quiet” place away from her toddler children. A patient of ours suddenly became unresponsive and starting bleeding everywhere. I called out for help because I was alone. She immediately came out, wearing street clothes, pulled her hair back, and was on the scene. The patient coded when Kelly arrived and her critical thinking skills were unbelievable. She started CPR, fluid bolus was being given and the medications were prepared prior to the code team arriving. I remember feeling a sense of ease when I saw her respond to my cry for help. She remained calm the entire time and right then and there I knew with her by my side we could give this patient the type of care that he required.
Awaiting a critical care bed for four hours, this patient became one-on-one nursing. She stayed with me the entire time, without a complaint and reassured both the patient and family that everything was going to be okay. She believes in family-centered care and made sure the wife was at the bedside the whole time and explained everything we were doing in detail. Although our staff offered to help her so she could leave, she stayed. For four long hours, she became very close with both family and patient to help ease their anxiety, sharing personal stories and uplifting moments. She then helped me transport this patient to a critical care unit bed and came back with me. Not once, did she mention the purpose of her coming into work that day or that this set her back on her personal work.
This goes to show that no matter what the scenario is patient care comes first to her!! People go into the nursing profession for many reasons. We hope as health care workers that they chose it because they want to make a difference. This nurse defines what bed side nursing is all about and what it should be. I am proud to work with her and call her my colleague. She gives 100% from the moment she walks into the doors of Morristown Memorial until she leaves and thereafter. Her knowledge and overall compassion is what we as nurses strive to become!
I would like to share briefly with you a specific day that I always keep in mind that truly explains and shows why she deserves to receive the DAISY Award.
I was working on the floor one day while she came in on her vacation week to work on her bachelor school work in a “quiet” place away from her toddler children. A patient of ours suddenly became unresponsive and starting bleeding everywhere. I called out for help because I was alone. She immediately came out, wearing street clothes, pulled her hair back, and was on the scene. The patient coded when Kelly arrived and her critical thinking skills were unbelievable. She started CPR, fluid bolus was being given and the medications were prepared prior to the code team arriving. I remember feeling a sense of ease when I saw her respond to my cry for help. She remained calm the entire time and right then and there I knew with her by my side we could give this patient the type of care that he required.
Awaiting a critical care bed for four hours, this patient became one-on-one nursing. She stayed with me the entire time, without a complaint and reassured both the patient and family that everything was going to be okay. She believes in family-centered care and made sure the wife was at the bedside the whole time and explained everything we were doing in detail. Although our staff offered to help her so she could leave, she stayed. For four long hours, she became very close with both family and patient to help ease their anxiety, sharing personal stories and uplifting moments. She then helped me transport this patient to a critical care unit bed and came back with me. Not once, did she mention the purpose of her coming into work that day or that this set her back on her personal work.
This goes to show that no matter what the scenario is patient care comes first to her!! People go into the nursing profession for many reasons. We hope as health care workers that they chose it because they want to make a difference. This nurse defines what bed side nursing is all about and what it should be. I am proud to work with her and call her my colleague. She gives 100% from the moment she walks into the doors of Morristown Memorial until she leaves and thereafter. Her knowledge and overall compassion is what we as nurses strive to become!