Patient care units depend on nursing support associates to keep the unit organized while supporting the needs of both staff and patients. Colleen Stango of Dulles 6, who received this year’s Nursing Support Associate Award, goes above and beyond.
For example, she always keeps the unit’s medication carts and supply closets stocked. According to one nomination letter, “I can remember on more than one occasion Colleen running to other units obtaining supplies. She even sought out and found a wheelchair so that a discharged patient could leave sooner and not have to wait for transport…. She will actually take patients herself to expedite flow.”
Stango will go out of her way to meet other patient needs as well, “be it go to the gift shop to get the patients something they asked for or spend time with a patient who needs someone to talk to.” In one situation, Colleen had just walked the wife of a patient down to the family shower [on 1 Gates]. When she got back to the floor and realized the woman’s husband had just gone into cardiac arrest and was being resuscitated, “she waited for the wife to return and then sat with her during the entire event so she was not alone. This compassion and dedication was noted by Pastoral Care, all staff on the unit and most notably made a difference with the family during this difficult time.”
Congratulations to all the Support Associates Nominated for this year’s award:
- Sheila Parker of Founders 11
- Brenda Franks of Rhoads 1
- Michelle Scott of Rhoads 3
- Khadijah Gresham of Silver 12
- Roxanne Williams of Rhoads 7
- Colleen Stango of Dulles 6
- Patricia Hoffman of ICN
- Zuriash Hailu of Ravdin 6
- Sheryle Williams of Silverstein 10
- Jeffrey Velez of Rhoads 4
