Kathryn Czaplinski / Thursday, December 19, 2024

/ Categories: NEWS, 2024

SVMC recognizes nurses for exceptional patient care and compassion

Southwestern Vermont Medical Center (SVMC), a member of Dartmouth Health, honored four nurses with DAISY awards this fall, recognizing exceptional care provided to patients.

The DAISY Award is an international recognition program honoring clinical excellence and outstanding compassionate care provided by nurses. Nurses are nominated by patients, families or colleagues and SVMC surprises the recipients with the honor. Awards are given out monthly.

Below are the most recent honorees and the submission SVMC received from their nominators.

Alexandra Martinez, BSN, RN – Medical-Surgical Unit

“Multiple individuals across the departments wanted to recognize this nurse as they cared for a patient with prolonged hospitalization and an unfortunate poor prognosis. The patient’s birthday occurred while in hospital, and this RN worked to ensure that his birthday was celebrated as best as possible. This RN coordinated with multiple staff across departments to obtain small gift items, wrapped them, printed a card, obtained fresh cut flowers, had the kitchen bring up the patient’s favorite meal and a special dessert. In addition, This RN gathered many different staff members who came in to help present items to the patient. This RN was determined to ensure this man was celebrated. Thank you to this RN for providing this level of care, compassion and dedication. The patient and his family were extremely touched by this gesture. We are very fortunate to have this RN as part of our team role modeling excellence!”

Jaclyn Hoag, BSN, RN – Endoscopy

“I had an endoscopy and colonoscopy today. My nurse noticed what appeared to be a discrepancy in my report of my medication. This prompted her to take deep dive into my gastroenterological record, in search of the correct dosage and prescribing doctor. While doing that, she asked additional medical history questions that I had not previously been asked, and looking even further into the record was able to find notations of a specific procedure that was recommended following my last scope, three years ago. Because this nurse took the time to consider something as simple as my report of my medication regiment, she was able to discover an important piece of my gastroenterological health that did not appear to be on anyone else’s radar, including my own. I’ll now be able to get appropriate attention for that condition. Because of her professionalism, attention to detail, and helpful bedside manner, I would like to nominate her for this recognition.”

Megen Niquette, BSN, RN – Post-Anesthesia Care Unit (PACU)

“Recently, my husband was in the hospital for procedure with Dr. S. His nurse while in recovery was one of the most compassionate and caring individuals, I have ever had the good fortune of meeting. She had explained to both my husband and I that she recently has the same procedure done herself. She shared the dos and don’ts and what to expect, etc. Her first-hand account will no doubt, reduce post-op worries and it will lead to a speedy recovery. We have always had positive experiences at SVMC, but this nurse made this most recent experience so much more special because of the way she connected with us on a personal level. I also very much appreciate her willingness to share her story. SVMC is very fortunate to have nurses like her.”

Rosemary “Ro” Walsh, BSN, RN - Medical Surgical Unit

“In January, I was hospitalized for 2 weeks prior to and following emergency surgery for a perforated bowel. This nurse cared for me for several nights during the last and most emotional and physically difficult stage of the hospitalization. I was in pain, scared, angry, and ashamed of my body which I had little control over; in short, I was a mess. I remember feeling relief every time I heard that she would be my nurse, because I knew that I could rely on her to be comforting and supportive and to provide the care I needed. One thing she did that was so helpful was with my wife, they gave me a bedtime routine that relaxed me and get me ready for to sleep for the night. Also, when I had difficulty with PT activities, she encouraged me by reminding me how far I had come which made me want to continue. I feel like my description doesn’t do her justice, she was a lighthouse during a storm…A positive guide I could rely on when my life and body felt like a scary disaster.”

Pictured: Left to right: Alexandra Martinez, BSN, RN, Jaclyn Hoag, BSN, RN, Megen Niquette, BSN, RN, Rosemary “Ro” Walsh, BSN, RN.

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How to Maintain a Healthy Immune System

There are so many things that we have little control over. We can't control what genes we get, how old we are, or what viruses are circulating in our environment, but there is a lot we can do to prevent illness. Remarkably, many of the same habits that protect you from diseases like diabetes, cancer, and heart disease also help your immune system fight infections.

Most viruses can't hurt you until they get inside your body. So, we can help our immune system if we avoid viruses and cut off the ways they travel. Viruses can spread through the air, but not usually for very far. Keep your distance—at least 6 feet—from others, and be a good neighbor by wearing a mask in all public areas.

Viruses that cause the most common illnesses—respiratory infections, including the common cold, flu, and the new COVID-19—travel into the body through your mouth, nose, and eyes and make their way to the areas they infect, like the lungs. The best way to break this chain is to clean your hands frequently, and don't touch your face with hands that have touched anything else. In addition, you can reduce the number of viruses in your environment by cleaning frequently touched objects with a bleach- or alcohol-based cleaner.

Vaccinations are your next line of defense. Immunizations, like the flu shot, introduce a small and harmless part of a virus or bacteria. The vaccine gives your immune system an opportunity to make antibodies against the virus. A vaccinated immune system responds more quickly and effectively when illnesses are introduced. What's more, when we all get vaccinated, we decrease the likelihood that anyone will get sick. If you are unsure about whether you or your children are up to date on their vaccinations, call your primary care provider’s office.

Your third line of defense is living a healthy lifestyle. It is clear that the same things that help the rest of our bodies function also improve the strength of our immune response. Likewise, things that hinder our bodies' ability to function compromise the immune system.

Regular exercise might be the most powerful way to maintain a healthy immune system. By increasing heart rate and blood flow, we allow the cells and substances of the immune system to move through the body freely and do their job efficiently. Similarly, things that slow the movement of cells and substances, like smoking or drinking alcohol in excess, may decrease the body’s ability to function and decreases the immune response, as well.

Getting adequate sleep may also positively affect the immune response. Chronic sleep deprivation has been shown to decrease the beneficial boost in immunity from vaccinations.

Our emotional state, too—whether we are stressed, lonely, or depressed, for instance—affects our immune response so much that a relatively new specialty called psychoneuroimmunology now studies the connection. One pioneering study, conducted in the early 1980s, found that college students operating within a stressful 3-day exam period had fewer of the cells that fight tumors and viral infections. In simple terms, the students almost stopped producing immunity boosters and infection fighters.

Finally, physicians have concluded that eating a mostly plant-based diet—including fruits, vegetables, beans, nuts, whole grains, and lean protein—supports overall health and may also support immunity. Nutritious foods include important vitamins that the immune system needs to function, such as beta carotene, vitamin C, vitamin D, and zinc. Note, however, that supplements that claim to improve immune function have not yet been shown to do so to the extent necessary to protect against infection and disease. It is better to eat whole foods that are rich in vitamins rather than take supplements.

Always consult with your provider before making changes to your exercise plan or trying a new supplement and if you have any medical concerns. Physicians and the other professionals working in their offices also provide help for developing a plan for a healthier life. Call your primary care office or 802-447-5007 to find a primary care provider.

Healthy habits, like those that protect your body from disease and infection, are not always easy to adopt or maintain. Perhaps knowing just how important they are to maintaining a healthy immune response will provide the extra motivation necessary to make them a priority.

Kim Fodor, MD, is an internal medicine physician at SVMC Internal Medicine.

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