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Tops in compassionate care:
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| Compassionate care: Terrie Waters-Dunlap recently received the William Campbell Nursing Scholarship for her excellence in nursing care with the Charles William Leighton Hospice, Inc., in Willcox. She is flanked by co-worker Cindy Clement, R.N., (left), who nominated her, and Clinical Coordinator Sarah Purscell (right). In the background are her sons, from left, Tyler and Kody. (Carol Broeder/ARN) |
Hospice employee nominated for state award; wins nursing scholarship
By Carol Broeder/Arizona Range News
For the third year in a row, an employee of the Charles Wm. Leighton Jr. Hospice was nominated for a Compassionate Care Award.
Terrie Waters-Dunlap, L.P.N. was honored Friday, June 13, in Phoenix for her nomination.
Unfortunately, the local hospice was not notified of her nomination until 36 hours before the Phoenix event, said Clinical Coordinator Sarah Purscell.
Because of this, Waters-Dunlap and her co-workers were unable to attend the awards ceremony this year, she said.
Instead, the hospice team held its own recognition ceremony for Waters-Dunlap on the morning of Wednesday, July 9, at T.A. Truck Stop.
"Terrie was nominated for her "extra-mile" attitude, both with clients and the hospice team," Purscell said, "She brings clients treats, tries very hard to participate and meet their needs and is very much a valuable member of the hospice team."
"She is always on the lookout for ways to assist her co-workers, which makes everyone's day less stressful," she said.
Waters-Dunlap was nominated by co-worker Cindy Clement, R.N., who read her letter during the breakfast.
"Terrie took a prime rib dinner to a patient because the patient said it sounded good. She has also taken pizza, burgers, cigarettes and groceries with her on visits when requested," Clement said.
Waters-Dunlap has changed light bulbs and moved furniture to help our patients and caregivers, she said.
Clement told the story that the hospice had "a violent patient who would throw things at caregivers."
Waters-Dunlap stayed on one occasion, even when the R.N. on call said she could leave, "because she was worried about the safety of the patient more than her own," Clement said.
"Terrie makes visits when she's on call because she wants her patients to be taken care of, even if it could wait," she said. "When she's not on call, she leaves her phone on and tells the other nurses to call if they need help. When she finishes her patient visits for the day, she will call the other nurses to see if they need help." Waters-Dunlap has taken on extra assignments such as entering patient data and tracking visits, she said.
"Terrie feels badly that she can't do all the duties of a hospice nurse because she's not an RN, so she's taking classes toward that goal," Clement said. "She even apologized that she won't be done sooner. And she does all this while being a single mom."
"Terrie won the William Campbell Nursing Scholarship for her excellence in hospice care and she will be using this scholarship to help her achieve her dream of becoming a registered nurse," said Purscell, adding that Waters-Dunlap is a student at Cochise College.
Purscell gave those gathered some background information on the man for whom the scholarship is named.
"William Campbell was a caregiver all his life," she said.
Raised in an orphanage, Campbell went into the service as a medic. After being discharged, he worked as an EKG tech and CNA in geriatric facilities and the V.A.
"He took care of his mother-in-law who was on hospice, and was a great supporter of the hospice program," said Purscell, describing him as a "great family man and wonderful person."
"When he got the diagnosis of esophageal cancer, he wanted no treatment but just wanted hospice care," she said.
"He left beautiful letters to his three daughters and grandchildren as a reminder of the lives he wanted them to live."
In her nomination letter, Clement talked about Waters-Dunlap's own motivation for joining the hospice staff.
"It was Terrie's desire to work with hospice after her experiences with her father's terminal illness," she said. "She patiently waited, while trying to convince the administrator of our local hospice to hire an LPN. I'm grateful that she did."
Waters-Dunlap thanked her hospice co-workers and volunteers. She also thanked her two sons and her boyfriend for supporting her in her life's work.
"They keep me grounded and remind me that there's more to life than my job," she said.
By Carol Broeder/Arizona Range News
For the third year in a row, an employee of the Charles Wm. Leighton Jr. Hospice was nominated for a Compassionate Care Award.
Terrie Waters-Dunlap, L.P.N. was honored Friday, June 13, in Phoenix for her nomination.
Unfortunately, the local hospice was not notified of her nomination until 36 hours before the Phoenix event, said Clinical Coordinator Sarah Purscell.
Because of this, Waters-Dunlap and her co-workers were unable to attend the awards ceremony this year, she said.
Instead, the hospice team held its own recognition ceremony for Waters-Dunlap on the morning of Wednesday, July 9, at T.A. Truck Stop.
"Terrie was nominated for her "extra-mile" attitude, both with clients and the hospice team," Purscell said, "She brings clients treats, tries very hard to participate and meet their needs and is very much a valuable member of the hospice team."
"She is always on the lookout for ways to assist her co-workers, which makes everyone's day less stressful," she said.
Waters-Dunlap was nominated by co-worker Cindy Clement, R.N., who read her letter during the breakfast.
"Terrie took a prime rib dinner to a patient because the patient said it sounded good. She has also taken pizza, burgers, cigarettes and groceries with her on visits when requested," Clement said.
Waters-Dunlap has changed light bulbs and moved furniture to help our patients and caregivers, she said.
Clement told the story that the hospice had "a violent patient who would throw things at caregivers."
Waters-Dunlap stayed on one occasion, even when the R.N. on call said she could leave, "because she was worried about the safety of the patient more than her own," Clement said.
"Terrie makes visits when she's on call because she wants her patients to be taken care of, even if it could wait," she said. "When she's not on call, she leaves her phone on and tells the other nurses to call if they need help. When she finishes her patient visits for the day, she will call the other nurses to see if they need help." Waters-Dunlap has taken on extra assignments such as entering patient data and tracking visits, she said.
"Terrie feels badly that she can't do all the duties of a hospice nurse because she's not an RN, so she's taking classes toward that goal," Clement said. "She even apologized that she won't be done sooner. And she does all this while being a single mom."
"Terrie won the William Campbell Nursing Scholarship for her excellence in hospice care and she will be using this scholarship to help her achieve her dream of becoming a registered nurse," said Purscell, adding that Waters-Dunlap is a student at Cochise College.
Purscell gave those gathered some background information on the man for whom the scholarship is named.
"William Campbell was a caregiver all his life," she said.
Raised in an orphanage, Campbell went into the service as a medic. After being discharged, he worked as an EKG tech and CNA in geriatric facilities and the V.A.
"He took care of his mother-in-law who was on hospice, and was a great supporter of the hospice program," said Purscell, describing him as a "great family man and wonderful person."
"When he got the diagnosis of esophageal cancer, he wanted no treatment but just wanted hospice care," she said.
"He left beautiful letters to his three daughters and grandchildren as a reminder of the lives he wanted them to live."
In her nomination letter, Clement talked about Waters-Dunlap's own motivation for joining the hospice staff.
"It was Terrie's desire to work with hospice after her experiences with her father's terminal illness," she said. "She patiently waited, while trying to convince the administrator of our local hospice to hire an LPN. I'm grateful that she did."
Waters-Dunlap thanked her hospice co-workers and volunteers. She also thanked her two sons and her boyfriend for supporting her in her life's work.
"They keep me grounded and remind me that there's more to life than my job," she said.
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