DAIS Y Award Winner

Sara Renzi, Surgical Services – Vineland, Q1 2023

One of my responsibilities as an Infection Preventionist (IP) is to perform observations in various areas of the hospital. The Infection Control team recently identified a cluster of Surgical Site Infections (SSI) within a particular patient population. During my observations I had the pleasure of being partnered with some truly amazing staff who exemplify the heart and soul of Inspira’s Mission, Vision and Values.

One nurse stood out to me as genuinely being concerned for patients who developed surgical site infections. With her inquisitive attitude and diligent work ethic, we worked towards finding a resolution. She accomplished this while managing the busy flow and simultaneously never losing sight of our sole focus, the patient. I observed her protecting the patient’s sterile field, regulating the flow of traffic, and advocating for her patient to safeguard them. This nurse joined our Apparent Cause Analysis (ACA) meeting to review the SSIs we identified and offered actionable insight that we could not gather from reviewing the patient’s chart. Her dedication towards ensuring patients receive the safest care possible did not end there. This nurse took the information from the ACA and continued to look for answers.

A few weeks later, her manager called and said this nurse requested that I meet with her after a case finished. I got very emotional when I got off the phone knowing this Team was still thinking about patients and striving to find answers. Most impressively, this nurse never stopped thinking about the patients who developed infections. This nurse’s unwavering dedication to provide compassionate, safe patient care makes her a true asset to Inspira. -Staff