May 2026 Honoree
Amanda Huynh, BSN
I would like to recognize Amanda Huynh because of the compassion and humanity she showed me during one of the hardest nights of my life while I was a patient on the fifth-floor trauma/surgical unit at Huntington Hospital.
I was hospitalized after a motorcycle accident involving a truck that turned left in front of me. I suffered a broken wrist and was in severe pain, heavily medicated, exhausted, and emotionally overwhelmed. I could not sleep the night before, and during Amanda’s shift, I asked her if there was any chance I could take an Ambien just so I could finally rest.
Instead of dismissing me or giving me a quick “no,” Amanda said, “You know what? Let me ask for you. It couldn’t hurt to ask.” She took the time to advocate for me, even knowing the answer might still be no because of all the medications I was already on. That moment mattered to me more than she probably realized. She made me feel heard.
What stood out most about Amanda was how genuine her care felt. Many of the nurses I encountered were good nurses, but Amanda had something different: warmth, empathy, and emotional presence. I later learned she was still very new, and honestly, I think that is part of what made her so special. She had not lost the human side of nursing.
Whenever I started getting down on myself for not handling the pain better or needing so much medication, Amanda would remind me, “You got hit by a truck. You are lucky to be alive.” She even showed me a photo of my injury to help me understand that what I went through was serious and that my pain was real. She always seemed to know exactly the right thing to say.
One of the moments I will never forget happened in the middle of the night. I could not sleep and felt trapped in my room and in my own thoughts. Amanda asked me if I wanted to walk around the floor. I was barely able to walk long distances, but she stayed beside me while we walked three laps around the fifth floor together.
She listened while I vented about my fears, frustrations, anger, and everything I was carrying emotionally after the accident. It honestly felt like therapy. She did not rush me, and she did not make me feel like a burden.
Amanda reminded me that nursing is not just about medication, charts, or procedures. Sometimes the most important thing a nurse can do is make a patient feel human again. Her kindness, patience, and empathy made a lasting impact on me, and I truly believe she deserves recognition for the care she gives her patients.
I was hospitalized after a motorcycle accident involving a truck that turned left in front of me. I suffered a broken wrist and was in severe pain, heavily medicated, exhausted, and emotionally overwhelmed. I could not sleep the night before, and during Amanda’s shift, I asked her if there was any chance I could take an Ambien just so I could finally rest.
Instead of dismissing me or giving me a quick “no,” Amanda said, “You know what? Let me ask for you. It couldn’t hurt to ask.” She took the time to advocate for me, even knowing the answer might still be no because of all the medications I was already on. That moment mattered to me more than she probably realized. She made me feel heard.
What stood out most about Amanda was how genuine her care felt. Many of the nurses I encountered were good nurses, but Amanda had something different: warmth, empathy, and emotional presence. I later learned she was still very new, and honestly, I think that is part of what made her so special. She had not lost the human side of nursing.
Whenever I started getting down on myself for not handling the pain better or needing so much medication, Amanda would remind me, “You got hit by a truck. You are lucky to be alive.” She even showed me a photo of my injury to help me understand that what I went through was serious and that my pain was real. She always seemed to know exactly the right thing to say.
One of the moments I will never forget happened in the middle of the night. I could not sleep and felt trapped in my room and in my own thoughts. Amanda asked me if I wanted to walk around the floor. I was barely able to walk long distances, but she stayed beside me while we walked three laps around the fifth floor together.
She listened while I vented about my fears, frustrations, anger, and everything I was carrying emotionally after the accident. It honestly felt like therapy. She did not rush me, and she did not make me feel like a burden.
Amanda reminded me that nursing is not just about medication, charts, or procedures. Sometimes the most important thing a nurse can do is make a patient feel human again. Her kindness, patience, and empathy made a lasting impact on me, and I truly believe she deserves recognition for the care she gives her patients.
Thank you, Amanda, for your exceptional compassion, advocacy, and dedication to your patients. You truly make a difference.
View More Honorees