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Janeen Richardson, RN, started her career with Bayada in 2002 at the Charlotte, NC (CHA) Office, and began helping the Monroe, NC (MON) Office cover a night shift on a pediatric case in 2003. Staff Supervisor Kate Niemiec recalls: “The client’s family was apprehensive about having new nurses because they were very comfortable with the nurses they had and did not really want a change.” After only one night orienting to the case, the family’s fears were quelled. Wanting to work through a few more details relating to the client’s care, Janeen insisted on a second night of orientation. Kate recalls, “From that moment on, the client’s family wanted to know when Janeen was coming back to work with their child!” Janeen was first assigned to work once every other week with this child, and has slowly taken over a weekly schedule. All the while, Janeen has been in contact with her office, checking coverage and offering assistance (even on short notice) when co-workers are reportedly stressed out and tired. Kate shares: “Janeen has been a wonderful addition to this client’s team and her client and her fellow co-workers could not have come this far without her consistent help. The client’s mother offers of Janeen: “This is a person I wish could be more involved in (my daughter’s) life. I trust her very much to care for my child.” Another three-year old client’s mother adds: “A home care nurse is most effective when they are able to make a difficult time in a family’s life a little more tolerable. Janeen’s skills go beyond her medical knowledge. She is compassionate and sensitive to emotional needs while utilizing outstanding nursing skills. Janeen is a quality nurse deserving of acknowledgement.”

Judy Foy, LPN, works in the Trenton, NJ area with many families who, due to environmental factors and life circumstances, can’t even imagine a better tomorrow. Senior Pediatric Staff Supervisor Tess Kaminski explains that a home care nurse working in this area must accept that he/she “is the only support some of these parents and children even get.” The nurse “must be compassionate to handle the heartache she sees, strong to handle the surroundings she is placed in, and have the fortitude to deal with home environments that are less than desirable.” For years, Judy did more than just provide services for one little boy. She made a difference by her positive example. Tess shares that the boy “would never have had birthday cupcakes in school, wouldn’t care about his grades if it were not to make his nurse proud, and would have missed the opportunity to experience school outings with his friends.” Judy somehow sees past the armed gate to his community and is undaunted by the fact that most people refer to it as “the projects.” Judy sees that she can make a difference and then does. Judy has also been known to see past environmental factors such as a “home where the roaches were residents and the mice were frequent guests,” according to Tess. Yet another crowded living arrangement left Judy as an unwitting participant in what Tess calls the “unique exercise program of ‘let’s climb over the mattresses.’” One new mother who could not imagine life caring for a special needs child now, occasionally enjoys open shifts for the opportunity to play mom, thanks to Judy’s intervention. Tess explains that Judy “helps mom look ahead and hope for the next good day.”

Pauline McClendon, HHA has provided care to Bayada clients for nearly eight years. What she has given to many is likely best exemplified by her current assignment with a man in his nineties who has no family or friends. The client is described by Staff Supervisor Kate Morris as a gentleman who is “very needy and unable to do much for himself.” Nursing Supervisor Kelly Marcus adds: “He also has some psych issues.” Pauline’s record of always being “prompt, reliable and caring” enabled a “warm relationship to develop,” according to Kelly. After just six months, Kate says, “[the client] is now so protective of her and worries about her at the first snowflake.” The positive impact of Pauline’s care has been clearly evident. The referral source’s social worker and nurse have remarked: “What a difference [Pauline] has made since our last visit. [The client] is much calmer and allows her to help him, which is a new happening and also his apartment and clothes are clean.” Pauline’s accomplishments are noteworthy in and of themselves, but even more so when Pauline’s personal health is taken into account. Pauline has just faced her third bout with cancer, having gone through a course of chemotherapy last summer and having just completed radiation therapy. Kate proclaims: “Pauline rarely misses a scheduled day at work. In fact, she never missed a day during her radiation treatments.” Kate also recalls, “Pauline has made a special effort to make sure [her client’s birthday] was remembered as well as holidays.” She has truly made his life better. In this spirit of selflessness, the Delaware offices wanted to give back to Pauline what she has given to Bayada and her clients. They collected $600, enabling Pauline’s wish of returning home to Jamaica to see her mother a reality. Kate comments, “Pauline truly is a hero and deserves our recognition and respect.”