Nursing associates are, basically, the engine that keeps patient care units humming along — the wind beneath their wings. They maintain an organized environment, clean and maintain repairs of unit-based equipment, and assure adequate inventory of patient care supplies. And, equally important, they help ensure patient-centered care by reaching out compassionately to patients. In other words, associates support the unit so clinicians can do what they do best: take care of our patients! “You are integral to all we do every day,” said HUP’s chief nurse executive Colleen Mattioni, DNP, RN. “You can’t underestimate what you do… the impact on our families and patients.”
Diane Leichter, MSN, director of Infection Prevention and Control, spoke about the great work support associates have done in lowering the rate of infections. The rate of HAIs for FY19 represents a 40 percent drop from the previous fiscal year. “I am certain that the amazing work implemented by the support associate team is a big part of how we achieved the great reduction in HAIs experienced at HUP.”
Each year, HUP Nursing holds an appreciation luncheon, not only to recognize nursing support associates but also to announce the recipient of the Nursing Support Associate Award. This year, the award went to Bernadine “Ms. Dee” Gause-Sisco.
“We often wonder how we could do our job without her,” her nomination letter noted. “She truly brings a sense of calm to our work environment.” Gause-Sisco is famous for her “FYI’ in morning huddle where she shares new information about supplies and hospital-wide changes. As an enthusiastic supporter of “Who Cleans What,” a hospital-wide initiative, she receives “amazing feedback from the Clinical Directors that she keeps the unit in tip top shape.”
Gause-Sisco is truly dedicated to the well-being of the unit’s patients. The nominator has witnessed her sitting at the bedside of patients, listening and giving hugs or even small gifts, anything to help them get through difficult times. She also takes the unit’s summer volunteers under her wing, “taking them on ‘road trips’ to various patient-care units, to give the students a feel of whether a career in medicine is in their future.”
All in all, “we are very fortunate to have an incredibly self-motivated, professional, hardworking and kind support associate…. Ms. Dee exemplifies the core values of Penn Medicine.”
And the Nominations Are….
Congratulations to this year’s nominees for Support Associate Award:
Brenda Franks Rhoads 1
Bernadine Gause-Sisco Silverstein 7
Patricia Grabowski ICN
Khadijah Gresham Silverstein 12
Wadeeah Henderson Ravdin 7
Shakenna Johnson Founders 10
Sheila Parker Founders 11
Anita Shaw Founders 14
Roxanne Williams Rhoads 7
Marlise Wilmore Silverstein 8