At Prime Healthcare, our greatest strength is our people. During ER Nurses Week, we are privileged to recognize the dedicated emergency nurses throughout Prime Healthcare, whose honorable work saves lives and provides comfort and care for patients during their most vulnerable times.
Today, we’re introducing you to Clinical Supervisor, Tomora F. Tonioli, MSN, BSN, RN, MICN, of the Emergency Department at Chino Valley Medical Center in Chino, California. Tomora possesses a level of clinical expertise, leadership, and empathy that, together, fosters an environment which supports her team and honors the dignity of each patient. Her ability to connect with her patients and create personalized care plans that meets their unique needs comes from personal experience.
“My grandma passed away while in hospice. The nurses who cared for her were amazing, which led me to work in hospice care for 10 years. And this has shaped my patient-centered focus.”
Tomora shared a recent example. “Now, you don’t see this every day, but we had a 96-year-old patient that came into our ER wanting hospice. Understanding this patient’s desire to make self-determined decisions, I provided her family with resources that allowed them to properly respect her wishes, and we were able to discharge her in 45 minutes.”
The family went on to write a letter that expressed their deep appreciation for the care and information provided by Tamora and her team. “Mom was a strong woman who lived and died her way. She was happy to be in her own home, surrounded by her family. At this time, I would like to say thank you for the kindness, dignity, and compassion you showed my mother during a difficult time.”
Tomora acknowledges that caring for patients is a privilege. “We get moments in time that we cross paths with people, just helping people in the ER. People look at us like we’re angels, but this is my job. People coming into the ER might seem apprehensive, but after you show them compassion, they see that we’re here for the patient.”
In addition to being a caregiver, Tomora is a teacher at heart. “What excites me is mentoring the new nurses and watching their growth and their skills advance and their confidence improve. We’re bringing up quality nurses in our community.”
Tomora’s work ethic and motivation consistently shine through her role. As for her future with Prime’s Chino Valley hospital, she shares, “I look forward to continuing my growth, possibly in management, at Chino. But for now, I love my role and I love the excitement of the ER. I enjoy being hands-on and working alongside our nursing team. I’m proud of what I do.”
To Tomora – and the thousands of Prime Healthcare RNs across the nation – thank you for your commitment to providing high-quality, compassionate care to every patient, every time.
Chino Valley Medical Center, a member of Prime Healthcare, has been recognized by the Lown Institute for outstanding Patient Safety, receiving an ‘A’ grade on the 2023-24 Lown Institute Hospitals Index. Chino Valley Medical Center achieved this honor through strong performance across metrics of patient outcomes and value of care, out of more than 3,600 hospitals nationwide.