Rosetta White

Throughout the years in nursing many nurses have touched my life and shaped my nursing career but one nurse stands out in my mind as the essence of nursing excellence. This nurse goes above all expectations in everything she does. Rosetta White has been a nurse at Carolinas Medical center since 1970. She should be the poster child for our organization, with her crisp white uniform and vibrant smile; Rosetta will often say she has to look nice because she is representing CMC. In my 15 years working with Rosetta I have never seen her without a smile on her face.

Each morning when she comes to work she is singing to herself and telling her co-workers that we are all going to have a wonderful day. She is a breath of fresh air to the nursing unit. Rosetta’s first priority is the best care for her patients each day. Rosetta makes each patient feel special and when her patient’s call out they always know who their nurse is. Even the patients that speak Spanish love her and call her “Rosita Bonita”. Patients always ask to see Rosetta before they go home to say good bye.

Rosetta will make sure the patient will get what they need while they are here. She uses a holistic approach to patient care. If the patient needs clothes for herself or baby, Rosetta will find it. She has even gone to patient homes to deliver items they have left behind knowing the patient did not have transportation to come back to the hospital. If a visitor is lost or needs attention, Rosetta will stop what she is doing to help.

Rosetta is a nurse that is remembered by her patients when they leave the hospital. Numerous patients of hers have come back to visit with their baby just to see Rosetta. As many patients as Rosetta has taken care of, she never forgets a face. She always takes the time to love on their baby and tell them how good it is to see them. We have patients that come back to see Rosetta annually to give her up dates on their children.

Residents that have worked with Rosetta through the years bring their family to see her as well. Rosetta will bring humor and a bright side to any dim and dark situation. She displays flexibility and effectively copes with accelerating changes, i.e.; merging with Nursery to form Mother/baby unit, new nurse managers, or moving to a new location –she always projects a positive attitude. She handles multiple projects at the same time and is the designated monitor in ordering and dispensing unit supplies; she pays close attention to cost implications and ensures that expenditures are in the best interest of the unit. Rosetta was instrumental in finding the linen hampers that most of the units are now using. I told her what I wanted and with her can do attitude she went on a search and found it. She assists in the preparation of the unit for visits from regulatory agencies with zeal. She is very proud of the unit and hospital where she works.

Rosetta is always available to support all team members (emergent situations, personal or family crises). Rosetta is readily available and at the forefront to assist others in implementing plans to meet goals. Rosetta’s commitment to her co-workers, unit and Carolinas Medical center are often rewarded with Values in Action certificates as well as patient acknowledgements and compliments. One patient nominated her for the Daisy.

Rosetta volunteers to coordinate unit blood drives, The United Way Campaign, Arts and Science, and Children’s Miracle. She also serves on the family Centered care Committee.

Rosetta’s experience is very valuable to the unit. If she has a feeling that something is wrong, she takes it forward to the charge nurse and the Physician. While working with a postpartum patient she noticed that the patient’s toes were swollen. She reported this information and persisted with the physician until they obtained an orthopedic consult. It turned out that the patient had cancer. This could have been over looked without Rosetta’s “gut feeling” and experience.

Rosetta loves her unit, her patients and her co-workers. She consistently displays a warm, friendly relaxed attitude and a harmonious cooperative spirit. She has never met a stranger and will stop whatever she is doing to help a patient, visitor, coworker or anybody in the organization. She displays a high degree of honesty, loyalty and integrity and is committed to unit/organizational goals and strives to achieve excellence. She exudes the CHS Core Values of Caring-Commitment-Integrity-Teamwork