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Bonnyville's acute care team named Covenant Health's most compassionate for 2021

The Bonnyville Health Centre's acute care first floor team received the Covenant Health 2021 Mission Award for Compassion.
Hospital Summer
The Bonnyville Health Centre's acute care first floor are the recipients of the Covenant Health 2021 Mission Award for Compassion. File Photo.

BONNYVILLE - They don't do it for glory or recognition, they do it to make a difference in someone's life. 

The Bonnyville Health Centre's first floor acute care is now known across the province for the heart and soul they put into their work. 

The team were named the recipients of the Covenant Health 2021 Mission Award for Compassion. 

For assistant head nurse for acute care at the local hospital, Alanna Kissel, it was confirmation they were on the right path when it comes to the care they provide their patients. 

“We experience many challenges rurally, and sometimes we have to think outside of the box and we put all of our hearts into our jobs so we can do what we can for our patients. We always strive and try and work together with other teams and other departments, our physicians are amazing as well, to do what we can to support our patients to achieve whatever goal it may be that they have medically in their life,” she told Lakeland This Week. 

Whether it's aiding someone in leaving this world, bringing life into it, or helping a patient into a new chapter of their life, Kissel said her and the acute care team try to show each and every person the care they deserve. 

On May 17, Covenant Health hosted a virtual awards ceremony where they recognized staff and teams, like Bonnyville's acute care, across the province. 

“I think all of us felt it was nice to get that recognition. We work very hard," expressed Kissel. 

There are six award categories in total all based off of Covenant Health's core mission and values: compassion, respect, collaboration, social justice, integrity, and stewardship.  

“This year, we were nominated for the compassion award. We received two specific appreciation letters, one in September and one in January, from patients that really explained how compassionate we were and what a difference we made in their lives and how we went above and beyond to ensure their comfort and show our kindness to help them through whatever they were going through,” Kissel detailed. 

In those letters, families detailed the level of care they received from first floor acute care. 

One family described their stay as "incredible." 

"The team ensured my family member’s comfort was paramount," the family said. 

“In another letter addressed to the team in January, a patient revealed the true meaning of the word kindness as it was shown in the words the patient writes: ‘I can’t describe how I feel about all you ladies, but I will say this - I saw care in all your eyes, your actions, your words - things that give a person like me hope,'” Kissel outlined. 

In that same letter, the patient said, "You excelled at your job, showing exceptional compassion, genuine care, patience, and gentleness, and you gave me the strength and courage to believe I could achieve anything. I am thankful to have you not only as my nurses, but now as my friends."

Hearing that feedback "makes all of the little sacrifices that we do worth it," Kissel exclaimed. 

From missing family events, working late, skipping breaks, and putting their own health to the side in order to focus on those under their care are just some of the prices they pay in their career. 

“But that’s why I did it, because I made a positive difference in that person’s life," said Kissel. 

For her team, empathy goes beyond caring for their patients. 

"It’s not just compassion for our patients, it's compassion for the team, for us to keep emulating that compassion. Without it, we can’t dive deep into what the patients actually need and make it a safe environment so they can share their stories with us in a safe environment where they feel that they’re not judged, that we’re here to help them no matter what their history is,” detailed Kissel. 

Meagan MacEachern, Bonnyville Nouvelle

 

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