Jodi Slattery, RN Case Manager at Care360 Hospice
It never ceases to amaze me how many times hospice workers are astonished that they were selected for the Hospice Caregiver Award. I wonder if they truly understand how incredibly special they are for the compassionate care and tenderness they provide at a time in the patient’s and their family’s life when they are most vulnerable. It is a gift!
That being said, Jodi was surprised that she had been selected as the August Hospice Caregiver Award winner. In front of a group of her peers (IDG meeting), we recognized Jodi for the amazing care she provides to the patients and families of Care360 Hospice.
Nominated by Business Development Liaison, Lynley Ledger, here is what she had to say about Jodi:
I have struggled on how to start this. The hardest part about being a hospice worker is caring for your own family. Recently, we brought my Godmother, Cherrie, onto our service. This was hard for me, bringing personal into work. As soon as I agreed, I asked my coworker, Jodi, to be her nurse. I see the amazing care she provides our other patients. I wanted that for my loved one. I will be honest, Parkinson’s is no picnic. It’s incredibly limiting and the side effects rob you all of your faculties. Cherrie’s experience has been just that and worse. Lots of shortness of breath, aspiration pneumonia and choking episodes. The day we brought her onto service was a rollercoaster. She was not comfortable, she was clearly in distress, and I was a wreck. But, Jodi and our nurse practitioner worked their magic. They got her over the episode and back to her cheery self. Today, another choking episode occurred. This is a part of her natural decline. Even though I happened to be present for it, I was still very scared. Listen, when someone is gasping for breath, it’s terrifying. She lives in a facility so I got their nurse and we had her medicated, but it wasn’t working. Our team called Jodi, and she came right over. She went into action. I was amazed how quickly the situation went from out of control, to calm. She again called our NP, new orders, new meds, new regime. We all agreed it was probably another aspiration episode, and it was time for action.
Once the episode passed and Cherrie was resting comfortably, Jodi checked on me. She hugged me. I cannot tell you what that hug meant to me. She helped our care aides bathe and change her and got her a new night gown. Once other family arrived, and I saw Cherrie was okay, she walked out with me. She must have seen the still worried look on my face and said, “I will check on her on later.” I thanked her for her time, hugged her again and left. Later for Jodi? She came at night! No one asked her to do that. I thought she meant later during the day. No, she wanted to tuck her in at night herself. No one asked her to do that! She just couldn’t relax until she knew Cherrie was sound asleep. Now, I know what you’re thinking - she’s your friend, that’s why. No folks, she has done this countless other times for other patients. It’s just what she does. She always goes above and beyond for her families. This is what makes Jodi an amazing hospice nurse and why I feel she deserves to be nominated for the hospice caregiver award.
Congratulations Jodi. You truly exemplify what it means to be a Hospice Caregiver.
If you know someone like Jodi who deserves recognition as an amazing caregiver, visit our website at https://www.thecaregivingtree.com/hospice-caregiver-award. It takes just a few minutes to tell their story.