|
| Sarah Hensil, winner of the Kitty Reisinger Heart of Nursing Award, takes care of a patient in the Medical-Surgical ICU at York Hospital. |
Sarah Hensil says she tries to view every patient as a relative
Sarah Hensil, a nurse in Medical-Surgical ICU at York Hospital, is known for the "extra special, caring touches" she provides to her patients.
Her pampering touches include warming up shampoo before washing the patient’s hair, making sure the patient always has warm blankets and bringing in nail polish from home to paint their nails.
She frequently accesses the patient comfort closet to obtain items such as hair ties, hand lotion, combs, hair detangler, hair gel, back scratchers and other items.
"My co-workers kid that they can always tell my patients because they are always the neatest and best groomed," said Hensil.
Hensil’s extra efforts were mentioned in her nomination for the Kitty Reisinger Heart of Nursing Award, which she recently received as part of the York Hospital Excellence in Caring and Practice Awards.
Kathryn "Kitty" Reisinger practiced nursing in York for more than 40 years until her death in 2002. Her son, Mark, and his wife, Tamara, established the award to honor his mother. The winner is selected by members of the Reisinger family.
"I try to view every patient as a relative," said Hensil. "What would I want a nurse to do for my mother, father, grandmother or sister?"
Hensil shocked to win the award
Hensil, who has been a nurse at York Hospital for four and a half years, said she was "shocked" to win the Kitty Reisinger Heart of Nursing Award.
"Just being nominated by a co-worker meant a lot to me," she said. "Winning the award is very humbling and rewarding. I was very emotional when I found out about it."
Hensil consistently receives feedback from family members of her patients about the extra touches she provides.
"Many of our patients can’t communicate, and often can’t make simple requests," she said. "But, it doesn’t mean they don’t want to look and feel good. Family members certainly appreciate whatever we do for their loved one."
A number of patients have returned to the Medical-Surgical ICU to thank Hensil, even though they may not remember what she did. Their knowledge comes from what family members told them and how impressed they were with Hensil.
"I’m a very nurturing, caring, compassionate and understanding person," said Hensil, who entered nursing school after the youngest of her three children started school. "I also enjoy providing the medical care and building relationships with family members."
Hensil added, "I think I work with the best group of nurses in York Hospital. Everyone is compassionate and supportive."
Here is a complete list of York Hospital Excellence in Caring and Practice Award winners:
Sharon G. Hardy Caring at the End of Life Award, Oncology Nursing Unit; Charles T. Spurlock Care for the Caregiver Award, Wendy Herbst, Kathleen Lehman and Susan Wierman, Home Dialysis; Glenn and Dorothy Stafford Magnet Nursing Award, Beth Ann Allison, NICU; Deborah Lookingbill Patient First Award, Coronary Care Unit; and Sandra Repman Nursing Legacy Award, Debra Lehman, TSICU.
M.D. Collegial, Respectful Partner, Bradley Taylor, M.D.; M.D. Research, Michelle Erickson, M.D., and P. Geoffrey Nicholson, M.D.; M.D. Educator and Teacher, Bradley Taylor, M.D.
Nurse Educator, Janet Mlodzikowski, Medical Services Administration; Preceptor/Mentor, Karen Fanus, Oncology; Advanced Practice Nurse, Brenda Artz, Surgical Services; Nurse Researcher, Sandra Yingling, Pediatrics; Nurse Leader, Lorraine Bortner, 5 Main; Staff Nurse Leader, Greg Lutz, Tower 2; Registered Nurse CN 3, Lisa Swope, Tower 2; Registered Nurse CN2, Cynthia Kauffman, Tower 2; Registered Nurse CN 1, Angela Tome, Tower 2; New R.N. Graduate, Amber Rickrode, Oncology.
LPN, Christina Miller, Tower 2; Nursing Assistant/Technician, Ruth Yohe, Emergency Department/Central Resource Team; Unit Secretary, Jacqueline Huber, Tower 2; Community Service, staff of Surgical Transitional Care Unit; Interdisciplinary Collaboration, Heart Failure Core Group, Tower 2; Shared Decision Making, Sheree Seben, Coronary Care Unit.