Lei
Buendia
June 2012
Lei
Buendia
,
RN
ICU
St. Michael Medical Center
Bremerton
,
WA
United States
Lei Buendia models the highest standards of excellence in her nursing practice every shift, every day. There is no doubt that she is an extraordinary nurse. With respect and gratitude for her numerous contributions to our team, our hospital, and the lives of our patients, the Intensive Care Unit (ICU) team would like to nominate Lei for the DAISY Award. Lei grew up in Japan, Southern California, and the Panama Canal Zone. She graduated from the University of Washington School of Nursing, Sigma Theta Tau, and received a Bachelor of Science degree in Nursing in 1985. Lei received her Critical Care Registered Nurse Certification in 1995 and her Cardiac Surgery Certification in 2006.
Lei worked at the University of Washington Medical Center in Seattle on a telemetry unit, as a staff RN, assistant head nurse, and acting nurse manager. She also spent 12 years in the Cardiothoracic ICU, Pre & Post Heart/Lung transplant unit. She also worked for four years in Trauma ICU at Long Beach Medical Center in Los Angeles, California. Lei joined Harrison’s ICU in January 2003. When she came to Harrison, Lei brought with her a wealth of experience. She has continued to remain on the cutting edge of nursing, learning advanced techniques and skills, and innovating practices to provide the highest quality care to our patients.
Lei has been an invaluable asset to our team for nearly a decade. She provides expert care to our post-operative open-heart patients. She is trained—and highly skilled—in advanced nursing interventions such as caring for patients receiving continuous renal replacement therapy, patients on intra-aortic balloon pump, and patients who have an Impella stent. She is ACLS certified and experienced in trauma. In addition to her outstanding contributions as an RN, Lei volunteered her time to improve the quality of care in the ICU as a member of the ICU committee from 2006 to 2009. She was a pivotal influence as a key member of the Electronic Medical Record Clinical Documentation Team from 2008 to 2009. As a guest speaker, Lei has shared her expertise with her peers at the Cardiovascular Surgery Circle of Excellence, the Cardiovascular Surgery 2-3 Days Post Operative Workshop, and the Intra-Aortic Balloon Pump Circle of Excellence. She has clocked 288 hours as a new RN graduate preceptor helping to develop the skills of new nurses. Lei was also an Open Heart RN preceptor from 2005 to 2009. Many of our best nurses have been trained, mentored, and coached by Lei.
In addition to her achievements in nursing, Lei has been an exemplary leader in our department. Whether she is working as a charge nurse or coming in on her day off to support our team during high census, she is always willing to help anyone on the team. She is organized, personable, professional, compassionate, and fun to be around. No matter how stressful a situation, Lei remains calm. She effectively advocates for her patients with tact and vigilance.
She also advocates for the nursing profession and contributes to making the profession better. Here is what some of her colleagues had to say:
“I have worked with Lei for almost 10 years. She is organized and meticulous. She takes great care of her patients. If she were taking care of me I would be really reassured. She has a very calm, professional demeanor, and is incredibly accomplished. I have worked with a lot of good nurses in 25 years of critical care and she is truly one of the best that I have ever worked with.”
– Dr. Griffith Blackmon, MD, MPH, Harrison Medical Center and Kitsap Pulmonary Sleep
Medicine
“She gives the kind of intelligent and complete care that we want all of our nurses to aspire to give. She is an exceptionally well-organized and effective nurse.”
– Donna Lu Rodger, RN, ICU, and PCU clinical educator
“Lei is a solution finder. She never identifies a problem without having the gumption to identify at least the framework of a solution. She was integral in the 2011 ICU Festival of Trees project as well as the Lions Club Auction, which raised thousands of dollars for the ICU. She comes in extra to help with staffing and stays late to help cover shifts. She has coordinated sending flowers to families whose loved ones passed away in our unit. She is truly the BEST!”
– Glynn Huff, RN
“Lei is a wonderful leader. Honestly, when she is in charge she is one of the most organized and effective nurses we have. She communicates with the HUCs extremely well and makes it easy to do our jobs. She treats everyone with the same respect. She’s amazing.”
– Sandra Edwards, health unit coordinator
Nominated by the Intensive Care Unit Staff at Harrison Medical Center
Lei worked at the University of Washington Medical Center in Seattle on a telemetry unit, as a staff RN, assistant head nurse, and acting nurse manager. She also spent 12 years in the Cardiothoracic ICU, Pre & Post Heart/Lung transplant unit. She also worked for four years in Trauma ICU at Long Beach Medical Center in Los Angeles, California. Lei joined Harrison’s ICU in January 2003. When she came to Harrison, Lei brought with her a wealth of experience. She has continued to remain on the cutting edge of nursing, learning advanced techniques and skills, and innovating practices to provide the highest quality care to our patients.
Lei has been an invaluable asset to our team for nearly a decade. She provides expert care to our post-operative open-heart patients. She is trained—and highly skilled—in advanced nursing interventions such as caring for patients receiving continuous renal replacement therapy, patients on intra-aortic balloon pump, and patients who have an Impella stent. She is ACLS certified and experienced in trauma. In addition to her outstanding contributions as an RN, Lei volunteered her time to improve the quality of care in the ICU as a member of the ICU committee from 2006 to 2009. She was a pivotal influence as a key member of the Electronic Medical Record Clinical Documentation Team from 2008 to 2009. As a guest speaker, Lei has shared her expertise with her peers at the Cardiovascular Surgery Circle of Excellence, the Cardiovascular Surgery 2-3 Days Post Operative Workshop, and the Intra-Aortic Balloon Pump Circle of Excellence. She has clocked 288 hours as a new RN graduate preceptor helping to develop the skills of new nurses. Lei was also an Open Heart RN preceptor from 2005 to 2009. Many of our best nurses have been trained, mentored, and coached by Lei.
In addition to her achievements in nursing, Lei has been an exemplary leader in our department. Whether she is working as a charge nurse or coming in on her day off to support our team during high census, she is always willing to help anyone on the team. She is organized, personable, professional, compassionate, and fun to be around. No matter how stressful a situation, Lei remains calm. She effectively advocates for her patients with tact and vigilance.
She also advocates for the nursing profession and contributes to making the profession better. Here is what some of her colleagues had to say:
“I have worked with Lei for almost 10 years. She is organized and meticulous. She takes great care of her patients. If she were taking care of me I would be really reassured. She has a very calm, professional demeanor, and is incredibly accomplished. I have worked with a lot of good nurses in 25 years of critical care and she is truly one of the best that I have ever worked with.”
– Dr. Griffith Blackmon, MD, MPH, Harrison Medical Center and Kitsap Pulmonary Sleep
Medicine
“She gives the kind of intelligent and complete care that we want all of our nurses to aspire to give. She is an exceptionally well-organized and effective nurse.”
– Donna Lu Rodger, RN, ICU, and PCU clinical educator
“Lei is a solution finder. She never identifies a problem without having the gumption to identify at least the framework of a solution. She was integral in the 2011 ICU Festival of Trees project as well as the Lions Club Auction, which raised thousands of dollars for the ICU. She comes in extra to help with staffing and stays late to help cover shifts. She has coordinated sending flowers to families whose loved ones passed away in our unit. She is truly the BEST!”
– Glynn Huff, RN
“Lei is a wonderful leader. Honestly, when she is in charge she is one of the most organized and effective nurses we have. She communicates with the HUCs extremely well and makes it easy to do our jobs. She treats everyone with the same respect. She’s amazing.”
– Sandra Edwards, health unit coordinator
Nominated by the Intensive Care Unit Staff at Harrison Medical Center