Shawna Smith
August 2019
Shawna
Smith
,
RN
Neuro
PeaceHealth Sacred Heart Medical Center at RiverBend
Springfield
,
OR
United States

 

 

 

I work the shift that follows Shawna, and frequently receive report from her and take over the care of her patients. She is consistently one of the kindest, most compassionate, and detail-oriented nurses I have known, and it shows in how her patients are doing after a shift during which she cared for them. One morning I took report on a patient from her with a new nurse I would be training for the day. The patient was on comfort care and rapidly progressing towards her final hours. As she described the long night this patient had, I took note of the many interventions she did and orders she requested to ensure that this patient's final hours were comfortable and peaceful. Our patients on comfort care often cannot advocate for themselves, and sometimes their needs unintentionally get put after the overwhelming list of medical needs from our other patients. She had thought of interventions for this patient I hadn't even known existed, and despite the patient having started the night in great discomfort, she now looked peaceful and comfortable because of Shawna's time, attention, and knowledge. What is more, the new nurse I was training got to witness an example of phenomenal nursing initiative and care. I am grateful and proud to work with this nurse. Her patients and coworkers are lucky to have her.