Recently I was admitted to the neurology floor at UNMC with an unexpected brain tumor. Discovering that you have brain cancer at 27 years old has been the most humbling experience I have ever gone through. So much of this was due to the exceptional care I received from "Nurse Adam" on the Neurology floor. Though I was receiving care outside of the comfort of my own home, Adam ensured that I was comfortable and welcomed me every single day during my stay. He consistently worked to make me smile and laugh on the best day and even more on my worst days. This demonstrated Adam's commitment to compassion. Adam was also nothing short in providing compassion and excellent care to me, but also to my family and friends who visited during this time. "Nurse Adam" is well known and often fondly talked about when any of my loved ones look back on my hospital stay. I am so very grateful that I was matched with Adam. He truly influenced my recovery and made such an impression on me that he changed me for the better.
Admittedly, during my stay, I was not always the easiest patient to care for. Not once did Adam compromise his ethics, care plan, or overall service to accommodate my difficult behavior. Rather Adam worked effortlessly to come up with creative and unique strategies to encourage me to continue executing my treatment plan. Adam challenged me to put my best foot forward every day, no matter if the task was easy or hard. An example of this is one afternoon I was particularly nasty and did not want to swallow my medication. After peppering Adam with some colorful language (that I later apologized for!), Adam decided to coax me into taking my medication by ordering me a chocolate shake from the cafeteria and crushed up my medication so that it was easier for me to swallow. Adam never once compromised on requiring me to take my medication nor did he ever respond negatively back to me, rather he stayed incredibly positive, supportive, and came up with a creative solution to encourage me to take my medication! Once the pills were crushed and less painful for me to swallow and I was rewarded with a yummy treat, I happily took my medication, which of course was necessary for my recovery in the long run. I admire Adam's dedication to extraordinary service with each opportunity that he is confronted with. He is truly a leader and a role model for his peers.
Adam was committed to enhancing my quality of life during my stay by his consistent commitment to challenging me in ways that I was uncomfortable with. For example, during my stay there were days that I did not want to get out of bed, however, Adam would show up with a smile on his face and a joke to make me laugh that would encourage me to stand up and walk around the floor. Not only was getting up to walk and circulate my blood important for my physical health but it also mentally improved my quality of life because I felt less alone when I saw other patients who also suffered from neurological trauma. Though I did not speak to other patients to get to know their unique stories, I felt a little less alone every time I stood up and walked on the floor. Every time I put one foot in front of the other, I knew that Adam was right next to me cheering me on and encouraging me to walk a little further. Adam constantly challenged me to work hard to improve my quality of life so that I could return home.
As I mentioned earlier, "Nurse Adam" is well known amongst my family and friends. Adam made an impact in the life of not only myself but also others around me. He showed compassion, respect, dignity, and professionalism every step of the way. He ensured that my entire support team felt comfortable and supported during my recovery. Adam has a unique quality for treating people with respect. Adam worked hard to answer even the most mundane questions by our family, with high energy and a professional response every time. In the event that Adam did not know the answer to a question, he would work to obtain the answer for us and he would deliver the feedback in a timely manner. Adam showed his commitment to providing quality care by maintaining accountability, initiative, and follow through on any challenge he was met with.
I worked with many nurses during my stay at UNMC and have very high expectations. Compared to his peers, Adam stood out to me in every category. I cannot thank him enough for his exceptional care, compassion, professionalism, and respect during my stay at UNMC. He truly made a horrible experience, one to remember. Now when I think back to my time at UNMC, and frankly think back to one of the most devastating times in my life, I look back and smile because I had the opportunity to meet Adam and truly grow a greater appreciation for the nursing and medical industry. UNMC is incredibly fortunate to have a member of their staff like Adam. Adam made such an impression on me, that this week I was able to overcome a personal fear of mine and return to the Neurology floor to personally thank him for his exceptional care. It is professionals like Adam, who are positively shaping the future of our healthcare industry, he is a true DAISY Nurse.