Bloomington Nurse Excellence Award winner goes beyond the task list

As a little girl, Julie Vescovi, RN, used to make a nurse’s hat and bring a tray of supplies to help take care of sick family members. Now, this Nurse Excellence Award winner is helping in her scrubs on IU Health Bloomington’s 3 East Acuity Adaptable unit.

“I am honored to be entrusted to take care of people at their most vulnerable times. I want to make a positive difference for our patients. I want them to feel cared for, comfortable, at ease and confident their needs will be met.”

Vescovi shares that the most important things nurses do aren’t on a task list, even though those tasks are necessary for delivering excellent care. Those essentials that aren’t on the task list include:

• Talk to the patients: Chit chat—ask about their family, pets, job, hobbies—this puts them at ease and lets them know you care about them as a person.
• Listen to them: They want to be heard, whether it’s about their illness, questions about their care, problems with their care delivery, fears, social issues, or something else.
• Do the extras: Anticipate their needs, learn their routines and accommodate as able, make them as comfortable as possible—warm blankets, fresh drinks, quiet environment, hold their hand when they need it, etc.

“These are the things patients remember more than anything.”

She also stocks comfort items on the unit to ensure patient needs are met, including shampoo, conditioner, detangler, hair ties, hair dryer, phone chargers and hearing aid batteries. Vescovi and her team also celebrate patients if they’re hospitalized on special days, like their birthday.

For her team, Vescovi tries to provide a positive environment by being available, helping with daily work, focusing on the positive, reducing negativity, bringing snacks, celebrating birthdays and accomplishments, and encouraging and supporting others during rough times.

Vescovi also has a personal mission to be an advocate for both patients and bedside nurses. That’s why she participates in IU Health Bloomington Professional Governance, Unit Governance, Nursing Peer Review, Nurses Day at the Statehouse.

“I want us to be supported and heard. I want to do all I can to ensure we are following best practice and taking the best care of our patients. I want us to learn from our mistakes, find the root cause and make sure they are not repeated. And I want us to have all the resources we need to do our job. So, I appreciate and take advantage of any opportunity I have to have my voice heard.”

Her 36^th anniversary with IU Health Bloomington is on May 14, and throughout those years Vescovi has followed a path dedicated to helping others.

“I am so blessed to be a nurse—to be able to make a positive difference in the lives of our patients. Nursing is a challenging job, but the most rewarding career.”