Nurse of Distinction 2017

 

As part of Milford Regional’s Nurses Week celebration every year, a Nurse of Distinction is selected that demonstrates Milford Regional’s values in his/her professional practice by providing exceptional care. This year, nominees for this prestigious honor were chosen by their peers in each unit within the hospital. At a heartwarming presentation where each nominee was recognized for their quality work and character by the nurse manager, the 2017 Nurse of Distinction was announced… Lisa Gervais, RN from the ICU!

Congratulations to all of the nominees and our 2017 Nurse of Distinction! We are so fortunate to have all of you as part of our Milford Regional family.

Read the nomination sent in below to learn more about our 2017 Nurse of Distinction, Lisa Gervais, RN.

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When I think about the Nurse of Distinction Award I immediately think of Lisa Gervais.  Lisa is a critical care thinker evident in her nursing practice, a strong patient advocate, and participates in performance improvement initiatives to improve patient care and outcome.

Having worked with Lisa for many years, I have many examples of how she is deserving of the Nurse of Distinction Award.  Most recently, Lisa took care of a patient with a terminal illness in the ICU.  The patient had a large extended family.  Lisa built a great rapport with the patient and family and she was able compassionately help the patient and his family transition the patient to a Comfort Measures Only (CMO) status.  Lisa not only addressed the patient’s needs, but also an entire room filled with grieving family members and she accomplished all this by providing the patient and family with such dignity and grace.

Lisa is the chair-person of the ICU Best Practice Committee.  Lisa leads this committee to ensure that the practice in the ICU is consistent with the current evidence-based-practice in critical care.  The committee meets every month to review guidelines, policies, procedures and protocols and suggest revisions as necessary.  For example, Lisa played an integral part in the roll out of the Chlorhexidine (CHG) bath standards to reduce infections in the ICU.  Lisa is part of the team who had an input in the design of our current ICU.  Lisa traveled with other Milford employees to newly constructed ICU’s in the country to see the latest in technology and how we can apply it to the building of the new Milford ICU.  Lisa also helped organized the placement of our supplies during the transition over to our new space.

Lisa is phenomenal in a charge/resource role.  Lisa anticipates a crisis and is always willing to help a co-worker.  Lisa has been a constant preceptor in the ICU and has been a mentor to novice ICU nurses.  Lisa is involved in the tedious job of staff scheduling which in my opinion, not a very popular task to do.

Lisa is so engaged in her job as an ICU nurse that you would think this is all she does.  Believe it or not, there is more. Last June Lisa volunteered her nursing services in the Dominican Republic for a week.  Lisa worked daily at local clinics to provide much needed healthcare to a poor community.  Lisa is also a mother and dedicates her time and nursing expertise at her children’s school trips and has used her nursing skills at numerous marching band functions. Just ask her, she has some good stories.

It is an honor for me to call her my friend and work buddy.  Lisa is a stellar nurse and Milford Hospital ICU is beyond blessed to have her working here.  Lisa continues to strive for nursing excellence for herself as well as for our Hospital and fellow ICU nurses.