Bernadette is the nurse I want to take care of me or my family in any situation. She is a patient advocate and will not stop working to get her patients and their families what they need. Her clinical skills are excellent, and she acts as a preceptor to our new nursing colleagues as well as those who may just need a refresher on any skill. She has been with hospice for 8 years and has stated it is the best nursing job she has had. She truly has the heart for hospice. Bernadette has cared for many patients and many patients who are family members of former patients. She has cared for 4 patients in one family, and many request her to be their nurse when they are coming into hospice. She exemplifies the mission in her everyday work, ensuring that she provides the highest quality of care to all of her patients.

Last summer, Bernadette spent her own time staying overnight with a family of a patient who was passing to give the family members and caregivers a break. She remains connected and involved with her patients' families long after the patient is gone.

Patients and their families send notes about the care they receive, and Bern is mentioned frequently. The one that stands out the most from one of her patient's family members described the care provided: like a drink of water in a desert. While this letter mentioned many of the hospice staff, Bern was the face and voice she saw and heard the most often.