Northwest Health – La Porte recently honored Justin Pendilla, RN, with the Daisy Award for exceptional nursing – most notably for his outstanding communication with his patients and their families and always being responsive to their needs.
Pendilla, an emergency department nurse, was nominated by a patient’s daughter whose mother was transported by ambulance to the ER at Northwest Health – La Porte after experiencing a heart attack at work.
In her letter describing how Pendilla put her mother and family at ease, she wrote that, “Nurse Justin not only cared for my mother but helped ease my families’ fears and tension by explaining all that he was doing and answering all of our questions and concerns.”
The daughter went on to share that Justin was so compassionate, and even though the ER was extremely busy, made every effort to consistently check on her mother as well as her family to ensure they were comfortable. She wrote, “Justin is the best nurse I’ve ever encountered. I even told him that I wish he could be my Mom’s nurse throughout her stay!”
Simon Ratliff, chief executive officer of the hospital said, “We are blessed to have an excellent emergency department staffed by some of the area’s most knowledgeable and compassionate caregivers. Justin’s manner of interacting with his patients helps ease their anxiety; and we know that patients who are more at ease can better understand their condition and care plan.”
The Daisy Award was established to celebrate the extraordinary compassion that nurses provide their patients and families every day. They can be nominated by team members, patients and visitors.
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About Northwest Health
Northwest Health is a comprehensive healthcare system committed to providing communities in Northwest Indiana with high-quality, accessible healthcare—from highly specialized care and surgical services to more routine primary care. The system of more than 60 access points includes three hospitals, five emergency departments, urgent care centers, outpatient surgery centers, an ambulance service, and physician offices. A team of more than 3,000 employees work together with the more than 700 physicians on its medical staffs. For more information, visit NWHealthIN.com.
