Tammy McGuff
May 2025
Tammy
McGuff
,
RN
Senior Care Unit-Geri Psych
Baptist Health Walker Hospital
Jasper
,
AL
United States
He got a much-needed haircut, clean shave, and has not stopped smiling since. This was in itself an example of going above and beyond, but Tammy’s COMMITMENT to not only caring for our patients but also their families led her to give this patient's mother a much-needed haircut and style.
Tammy always goes above and beyond for her patients. Patients here on Senior Care may have a longer stay than most other patients on other units due to their specific discharge disposition. Tammy makes sure the patients are comfortable and look their best. She spends her own money on nail polish for each female patient to make them feel pretty. The ladies love it and love to show off their manicures, especially at visitation time. The patients love when Tammy works and always ask for her to give them a little trim or freshen up their beards. Like I mentioned above, some of our patients have long stays in Senior Care. With everything else that needs to be done during the day, Tammy always makes time to do the little extra things that make our patients feel special. I am proud to call her my coworker.
A few weeks ago, a young man was brought by DHR to our emergency department for placement. This young man has significant intellectual disabilities and requires 24/7 supervision and care. His aging parents have gotten to the point where they cannot safely care for him at home any longer. Unfortunately, he is a hard placement, and after spending a week in our ED, we had exhausted any short-term placement options and made the decision to admit him to our senior care unit, where he would be able to be more comfortable until we could figure out a permanent placement option. On arrival, he presented with long, unkept hair that likely had not been cut in several years. His mother, who is confined to a wheelchair, had been unable to keep up with not only his hair, but also struggled to maintain her own hair, which was long and matted.
Being “mama bear,” Tammy got CURIOUS and asked if it would be ok to cut/clean his hair to help him feel and look better, to which his parents agreed. He got a much-needed haircut, clean shave, and has not stopped smiling since. This was in itself an example of going above and beyond, but Tammy’s COMMITMENT to not only caring for our patients but also their families led her to give this patient's mother a much-needed haircut and style. She has been spotted all around the hospital halls, and staff have commented on how great her new hairstyle looks! She smiles brightly when a comment is made to her. This is a clear demonstration of how Tammy CONNECTS with not only her patients, but their families as well.
A few weeks ago, a young man was brought by DHR to our emergency department for placement. This young man has significant intellectual disabilities and requires 24/7 supervision and care. His aging parents have gotten to the point where they cannot safely care for him at home any longer. Unfortunately, he is a hard placement, and after spending a week in our ED, we had exhausted any short-term placement options and made the decision to admit him to our senior care unit, where he would be able to be more comfortable until we could figure out a permanent placement option. On arrival, he presented with long, unkept hair that likely had not been cut in several years. His mother, who is confined to a wheelchair, had been unable to keep up with not only his hair, but also struggled to maintain her own hair, which was long and matted.
Being “mama bear,” Tammy got CURIOUS and asked if it would be ok to cut/clean his hair to help him feel and look better, to which his parents agreed. He got a much-needed haircut, clean shave, and has not stopped smiling since. This was in itself an example of going above and beyond, but Tammy’s COMMITMENT to not only caring for our patients but also their families led her to give this patient's mother a much-needed haircut and style. She has been spotted all around the hospital halls, and staff have commented on how great her new hairstyle looks! She smiles brightly when a comment is made to her. This is a clear demonstration of how Tammy CONNECTS with not only her patients, but their families as well.