Hospice News
LPN of the Year
 No
one wants to be forgotten. We all want to leave some type
of legacy, something that marks how we made a difference
in other people's lives.
Most importantly, no one dies alone.
Those cared for hospice nurse Debra Redmond,
LPN, never have to worry about that. She listens intently
to their stories, soaking in their life lessons, no matter
if it is a dying infant , or a Vietnam vet who is coming
to the end of a very hard life.
To her, these are not terminal patients, but people with
stories and histories who should be feted until their final
breath.
" I think one of the biggest misconceptions of hospice is
that it's a very sad depressing place, when in fact it is
far from that because of the courage displayed by these patients." said
Redmond, a nurse at Barnabas Health Hospice and Palliative Care Center's (BHHPCC) Hospice inpatient unit at Monmouth
Medical Center (MMC), Long Branch, NJ. "There are many uplifting
moments that these patients and families share with us. Whether
the birth of their grand kids or a son or daughter's wedding,
we got truly celebrate theses people's lives."
Her positive attitude is certainly one of the characteristics
that convinced judges to select Redmond, for this year's
LPN of the Year award, the first given to a hospice nurse.
But that's not only quality that defines Redmond. She's a
confident, articulate LPN who goes the extra mile for her
patients. She considers herself a professional nurse and
caries herself that way.
"I've worked in this business for quite a few years, and
in doing so, I think I earned respect from people because
I give respect to people," she said.
And that's on of the things that makes Redmond so special
not only to her patients but also her co-workers, said nominator
Barbara Eklund, MSN, CS, CHPN, director of hospice services.
"Debra supports the other LPNs and RNs on the unit by identifying
their needs and tailoring her approach to each of them," she
said. "Debra is a wonderful teacher to new employees and
her commitment to the 'basic' of nursing is a wonderful example
to new and more seasoned staff."
 Redmond's
selection as LPN of the Year wasn't easy for our judges,
considering they evaluated the largest number of contestants
ever from the New York Tri-State region. Redmond's biggest
challenge came from two nurses, Michele Getz, LPN, a nurse
at Sea view Hospital Rehabilitation Center and Home, Staten
Island, NY, and Lisa Marter, LPN, of Northport (NY) VA Medical
Center who finished as runners up for this year's prize.
Eklund, who has been involved in hospice nursing for more
than a decade, said that the emotional toll of hospice nursing
isn't for everyone, but this area of care is a natural fit
for Redmond.
"People don't get why someone would want to working hospice," said
Eklund. "You have to be a special person to see the value
of this work. Debra's always been a special nurse. She was
one of the first nurses to interview for this position when
we opened up our first hospice inpatient unit in 2000. She's
been instrumental in the development of this unit."
Today, the 10-bed unit offers care for patients in end-of-life
care, though some stay there briefly before transitioning
to the unit's home care program.
Eklund also praised Redmond for her negotiating skills in
working with physicians to help patients get the medications
or equipment they need. She's also applied for and received
grant funding for underinsured hospice patients in Monmouth
County.
But it's her abilities and personality that make Redmond
the perfect hospice nurse, Eklund said.
"Her ready smile and empathetic nature help soothe physical
as well as emotional wounds," she said. "Debra helps to create
a healing environment where darkness once fell. [She] makes
a difference."
 While
she enjoys working on the unit, Redmond admits that her job
is very emotional. Ask about special patients who touched
her life and she'll bring up the infant who had a 3-week
stay on the unit before dying, or the 13 year-old boy who
succumbed to a serious head injury after staying a few weeks
on the hospice unit.
"As mothers and professionals on this unit, you lend your
skills to that infant or child," she said, "In that same
way, you have empathy toward the mother and father of those
children. They sought every possible option for their children
and there were no other options. We're here to support them."
But it's not just the younger patients who Redmond's remembers.
She recalls them all, especially one "ruffian" who recently
came to the unit. This Vietnam vet showed a rough exterior
but Redmond found him to be very "caring inside." As Redmond
and the rest of the staff got to know the man, he touched
their lives. When he died, Redmond wrote a poem about him
that hangs on the unit's walls today.
"Those people make the extraordinary memories that make
the job, and make you want to come to work every day," she
said.
Aside from the emotional challenges hospice nursing presents,
keeping up with the changing healthcare protocol can also
be difficult. That's why Redmond decided to earn credentials
from the National Board for Certification of Hospice and
Palliative Nurses. She passed the exam last fall, becoming
the first LPN from BHHPCC to receive this honor.
Since graduating from Monmouth County Vocational School's
PN program in 1989, Redmond has considered going on for her
RN. She even completed semester at Brookdale Community College,
Lincroft, NJ, but had to halt her schooling to care for a
family member. The ADN still remains a goal for Redmond,
not because she doesn't enjoy being LPN, but simply because
she wants the opportunity to do more i her career.
"Being an RN is not going to make me a better nurse," she
said, "but I think I'll able to enhance my roll as a nurse."
While most consider the LPN of the Year an individual honor,
Redmond credits much of what she's accomplished to a dedicated
team of professionals who work at BHHPCC.
"It's pretty easy to work at a place where everyone has
a common goal and we all enjoy working to meet that goal," she
said.
The close relationship between staff carry over to patient
care.
"When we have a difficult case, we call on each other," Redmond
said. "that happens not only at work, but also at home. If
one of us comes up with a great idea, we'll call the unit."
Redmond has had much influence on new nurses who join the
staff whom she's often asked to orient to the unit.
"One of my proudest moments is helping that new staff member
transition from another unit," she said. " It's great to
see someone in that situation succeed and become part of
the team."
Making the patients' final days as joyful as possible is
the main goal for the hospice staff at MMC. This includes
the family as well," Redmond said.
"We encourage the family to make it a life moment even though
we know there is an end," she said,"It's amazing thing."
And when the patient is reaching his final hours. Redmond
is often the nurse holding his hand.
"If we see end of life coming and it's impossible for a
family to be here at the moment, one of us will stay with
the patient." she said.
Redmond recalls each patient, especially the infant and
the family who touched her life.
"When she passed away , the parents thanked us and we thanked
them for bringing that child into our lives and entrusting
us with her care." she said. "Those are especial moments
when you know you helped someone. It's wonderful to work
here every single day."
Meet the Judges
Tom Kerr is ADVANCE editor
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