Audra Mary, RN

My husband, who has ALS, has had several hospital stays over the last year that provide both a backdrop and a variety of experiences with which to compare our gratitude and appreciation for all Audra did for us during our most recent stay.

On top of the reasons for our admission, ALS introduces a variety of challenges to a routine hospital stay, including use of a call light, nurse-patient communication, turning in bed, eating, drinking, and toileting. My husband also has PTSD and anxiety, which are easily triggered by elements of both his disease and the hospital environment. This makes it imperative that his wishes are respected regarding things like room temperature, blanket placement, body positioning, opening or closing curtains and doors, being accompanied at all times, and receiving timely responses to his needs.

Audra was one of the best nurses we have ever had. At a minimum, she was thorough and timely, but more often she was collaborative and proactive in everything she did. At no point was she dismissive or argumentative regarding my husband's needs or requests. She treated him with compassion, dignity, and professionalism that was both tender and informed. She also treated me as a respected resource, extending her concern beyond my husband as her patient to me as his caregiver.

She offered creative solutions to challenges we have routinely advocated for but rarely found such collaborative partnership in addressing. Whether it was helping him sit more upright, relieving pressure in ways that honored his positioning needs so he could breathe more comfortably, ensuring medications were administered on time, or checking on him frequently so I could finally get some sleep while knowing he would receive prompt attention, Audra consistently exceeded our expectations.

Her attentiveness carried over across shift changes as well. The nurses who followed her already understood my husband's needs and preferences because Audra had communicated them so thoroughly. If we told something to Audra, we could trust that everyone else caring for him would know it too.

Audra answered every question, advocated for comfort measures, and never gave the impression that caring for my husband was a burden. She is the reason my husband was able to experience moments of calm and reassurance during this hospitalization because her standard of care included respecting his emotional and psychological needs just as much as his physical medical needs.

We fully understand the demands placed on the professionals who work on the floor, and we deeply appreciate the time, attention, and compassion it took for my husband to feel so genuinely cared for. Audra is not simply an asset to your institution; she is an outstanding ambassador for the nursing profession. She demonstrated with grace, creativity, and integrity that it is possible to care for the whole person, even in the demanding hospital environment, and it made all the difference in the world.

Please extend your highest commendation to her in recognition of the profound difference she made during one of the most difficult times in our lives and for the exceptional quality of care we are certain she provides to every patient on every shift. Her example deserves to be recognized, rewarded, and modeled by others.

To even our own astonishment, it was truly a pleasure to encounter her, and we can only hope to receive the same extraordinary level of care in the future.