Allysha Barbera, RN, MSN, FNP

I'm a retired surgical nurse. I worked in surgery for 35 years. Some patients were transferred to CCU. Our department had a good working relationship with the CCU nurses. Allysha is one of the most compassionate, respectful, and professional CCU nurses I have ever met. My husband went into respiratory arrest followed by cardiac arrest and was resuscitated. This was unexpected. He was transferred to CCU. It was the first time I ever met Allysha. She treated us like family. She was there every step of the way, especially when my sons and I decided on comfort care only. The ventilator was removed—one of the worst days of our lives. Allysha supported us the entire time.

After his passing, I thanked her for all she had done for us. She responded, ‘I treat every patient that comes here like I would want my family to be treated.’ I see so many nurses there for a paycheck. This one is one of a kind. The world should have more dedicated, caring nurses like her—devoted, intelligent, respectful, competent, compassionate, and professional.