River Parishes Hospital announ-ced Greg Grizzaffi, a registered nurse in the Intensive Care Unit, as its April Employee of the Month. Grizzaffi has been employed at River Parishes Hospital since October 2009. In that time, he has touched the lives of many patients and visitors in the hospital.
A patient’s daughter recently
sent a letter to hospital administration expressing her gratitude
for the “Angel,” as she referred to Greg, who took care of her father
in the Intensive Care Unit. She
said, “Greg took such good care
of my father that I was amazed, astonished and thanking God for him.”
She explained that Grizzaffi was pro-active with her father’s care as he kept in touch with the physicians every step of the way to make sure that everything he could possibly do for her father was done. The family had a lot of questions, and Grizzaffi took the necessary time to ensure they understood the hospital’s plan of care. She says he talked to her family in terms they could understand and explained what was happening and what to look for. Once her father was transferred to the Medical/Surgical Unit, Grizzaffi stopped by to check on him to see how he was doing.
In her letter, she wrote, “Wow.” When he walked into the Medical/Surgical Unit, she said, “He brought tears to my eyes, and I had to walk over to him and hug him.  I was so touched and moved by this young man. He is an example of what service should be for a patient and for a family.”
Grizzaffi’s director, Brigitte Mohon-Gommel, describes him as an absolute pleasure with whom to work. She said she receives compliments about his care on a daily basis. “It is truly a blessing to work with a professional of his caliber,” said Brigitte.
Grizzaffi said he’s wanted to become a nurse since he was a young child. His sister suffered an illness in which she was hospitalized for four months. He was inspired by the lifesaving measures she received from the doctors and nurses who cared for her. He said he enjoys working in the hospital’s Intensive Care Unit because the nurses treat each patient with a team-centered approach.
“We all lean on each other for clinical and emotional support,” said Grizzaffi.
When asked how he feels being selected the Employee of the
Month, Grizzaffi said it took him by surprise. He simply treats his patients the way he would expect
to be treated – the way they
deserve to be treated. He did
express that receiving such a heartfelt letter from a patient’s family member about the care he provided is a true compliment his nursing career.