Ashley Dudley, a nurse on 9 West, grew up with nine siblings, so she is used to a bit of chaos, yet she radiates a sense of calmness in her work.
By Maureen Gilmer, Riley Children’s Health senior writer, mgilmer1@iuhealth.org
Ashley Dudley is a young nurse not quite two years into her career at Riley Hospital for Children. Yet she showed maturity beyond her years as she cared for a young patient recently.
Dudley, a nurse on 9 West, was honored with a DAISY Award last month for her compassionate care and clinical skills. She was nominated by her manager, Keegan Caughey, for the care she delivered over three nights to a patient and family during the patient’s end-of-life transition.
“Ashley operates with a constant sense of calmness and security that radiates to everyone around her,” Caughey said. “Though I know death is something that others here at Riley frequently handle with grace and empathy, it was a new process to provide direct care for a patient on our unit.”
Still, despite limited experience, he added, “Ashley never wavered at doing everything in her power to meet the patient's wishes, doing so with maturity, poise, delicacy and love. Her leadership in that moment will not be forgotten by the unit, and her care will never be forgotten by the family.”
Dudley, who describes Caughey as “one of the best managers I’ve ever had,” said the support he and other team members provided made all the difference and that she was honored to be there for her patient and their family.
Caring for others is in her DNA. She was raised in a small town in southeastern Indiana, the sixth of 10 children.
“I grew up taking care of my younger sisters, and anytime I had little nieces or nephews or cousins around, I’d always be hanging out with them, even when I was a teenager,” she said. “I loved to help other people.”
She attended nursing school at Ball State University and had the opportunity to spend a few days shadowing at Riley.
“I loved the atmosphere at Riley and the kids. It’s definitely been a great place for me.”
Dudley, whose fiancée, Gabi Garcia, is studying for her doctorate in psychology, enjoys playing Spikeball and pickle ball, working out and hanging out with friends and family during her time away from the hospital. She also dotes on her cat, Louie.
Reflecting on her chosen career, she said she has learned a lot from her patients, mainly: Lead with compassion, and don’t take the time you have with people for granted.
“We never know what life is going to bring us.”
Photos submitted and by Mike Dickbernd, IU Health visual journalist, mdickbernd@iuhealth.org
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