Sara McDowell receives 2022 Honored Nurse Award
This past year has proven to present many challenges for nurses in the midst of a pandemic. Sara has met every challenge along the way and has gone above and beyond. Sara embraced the science of nursing by continuously learning about the virus and how to manage it while learning new nursing skills including phlebotomy and telemetry monitoring to care for increased acuity of patients. She remained flexible to meet the needs of her patients as well as the unit.
Sara demonstrated the art of nursing with vast patience throughout the pandemic. She continued to show compassion with each and every interaction with patients, families, and colleagues. When I asked her manager to comment on Sara, she stated:
"Sara is one of the most compassionate, caring, selfless nurses I have ever had the pleasure to work with. She has stayed late to help the "greener" on coming shift with completing a task that they have not done before. Over the last year Sara has worked with Covid positive patients and has always come to work with a smile on her face and a positive attitude. I have never once heard her complain about the additional workload or emotional stress that it has placed on the Nursing staff. It is an amazing feeling to watch her interact with her patients. She becomes their family, their number one supporter and their friend. One patient and his wife recently sent Sara a bouquet of flowers and a card stating that "they could never be able to repay her for all the expert care, help, and encouragement she gave. You are an angel sent by Jesus to help".
