Several months ago my father was placed in the surgical area that only contained a curtain around his bed/room. Unfortunately, he was forced to stay there several days before he was placed in an actual room up on a floor. The good part about being there was that we got to meet Andrew Baird, an RN who was assigned to care for us only one day. He had been reassigned to this unit for the day he told us but it was truly a blessing. My dad has a long medical history but the short of it is that he now has pancreatic cancer. He wasn't allowed to eat anything and even if he had been allowed to he was scared to anyway. His only request was to smell coffee as Andrew found out by asking him.
Andrew went to Starbucks on his lunch break, purchased a bag of coffee beans and gave them to my dad to smell. You won't believe how happy this made him. Andrew brought normalcy back to his day. He then took him outside in an area where he could sit in the sun. After leaving the hospital I had forgotten my cell phone. I called the unit to ask Andrew if he saw it in my dad's room and it was there. I was going to come and get it but rather Andrew wouldn't accept that and he delivered it to the front counter at the Tiverton House.
I was an emotional wreck after dealing with my dad's diagnosis. Andrew sat with me for 30 minutes even though he was off. He said that he had to care for my mom and me just as much as my dad. Upon his return to work the next day he and his simple acts of kindness that he showed to our family during a period of tremendous stress had an incredible impact on us. I offered him a gift but he refused saying that it was enough just being able to help my mom and me. Our family was truly touched and will never forget what we experienced under Andrew's care. Thanks for the compassion and kindness Andrew.
***
Andrew Baird is the most compassionate attentive and professional RN we have ever encountered. He was S's first nurse on 8 North following S's liver transplant. When S returned for a brief stay, Andrew was his nurse once again. Andrew was the first nurse to give him a pedicure and manicure (he had been in the hospital for 12 days at this point). He changed bandages, bathed, administered medication etc. all duties in a timely manner. He visited S regularly when he was not his assigned RN. He showed me how to change bandages properly. He described all medications and how to administer them at home. He made us both feel that S was receiving competent, attentive care which lowered our stress levels. He worked effectively with the LVN. He displayed a calm, professional demeanor at all times. One can tell when a nurse truly is dedicated to their profession, enjoys it and goes above and beyond the call of duty; that describes Andrew. He is truly worthy of the DAISY Award recognition.
Note: This is Andrew's second DAISY Award!