Courtney Gavin, RN

Congratulations to our May Impact Award winner, Courtney Gavin, RN case manager for Suncoast Hospice, a member of Empath Health.

Gavin joined the organization in 2007. In her role as a float RN, she visits patients in a variety of settings and takes phone calls in the triage office. Gavin works closely with families, facility staff and the rest of the interdisciplinary team to ensure each patient has their needs met. Since COVID started, she often facilitates Zoom calls between families and their loved ones in an assisted living facility or nursing home.

“I have been a hospice nurse for over 20 years now and it never gets old,” says Gavin. “It is so rewarding when you have a patient that is struggling and something you do finally makes them comfortable and the family is so appreciative. It is really rewarding when our patients are able to die on their terms, where they want to be.”

The monthly Impact Award recognizes and celebrates staff for their positive impact on others, demonstration of our values and above-and-beyond service.

Here is an excerpt from Gavin’s nomination:

“Courtney Gavin is an exceptional RN on the Pearl Team. She always put the needs of our patients first and partners with other team members, facility staff and community doctors to meet them. However, when challenges arise among those partnerships she will fight with a pioneering heart for the comfort and needs of the patients. 

In addition to maintaining part of her regular caseload, Courtney has moved into a full time float RN position recently. This position allows Courtney to assists and support all the RNs on the team. She has even accepted home patients from the Yellow Team due to their high census. Courtney accepted this new role with a brave spirit. Home patients are different than assisted living facility and nursing home facility patients – she is never sure of the environment that she is walking into, but she accepts each new patient with an open mind and brave spirit. Courtney is a healing presence with all of her patients. Her patients and families quickly learn to trust her as she provides them quality care and comfort during their most challenging times. 

Courtney truly showed her brave spirit and pioneering heart when she was the first RN on our team to receive the request to test a patient for the COVID-19 virus. She accepted the assignment bravely even though everyone was still determining the proper protocols, equipment and labs available. Courtney bravely navigated the processes and successfully completed the testing of our first patient. After completion, Courtney quickly made recommendations to help make the process easier for the next RN and patient. Courtney continues to be a great resource as she is available to assist with other COVID-19 testing. In summary, Courtney models the Suncoast Hospice values and compassion each and every day with all of her patients and co-workers. The Pearl Team depends on her passion, knowledge and compassion each and every day.”

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