Brenda is a wound care nurse who creates meaningful relationships with her patients. I can’t narrow it down to just one story. Brenda had a patient with complex wound care that was going to a skilled nursing facility. Brenda wanted to make sure that the patient’s care plan was carried out appropriately. Brenda went to the SNF to do education with their nurses to ensure the patient’s progress was not stalled. In addition, she gave her phone number to both the patient and her significant other and asked them to call if there were any problems or any questions. Brenda had a patient’s family ask her if she could clip the patient’s toenails. In true Brenda style, she went above and beyond and gave the patient a hospital pedicure which included soaking her feet, clipping her nails, and rubbing them down with lotion.

We had a young woman in our hospital as a patient. This patient was incredibly ill and certain grooming items were not a high priority. As the patient began to recover, Brenda asked the patient’s family if the patient usually kept her legs and such shaved. Her mom cried and said yes. Brenda then took it upon herself to clean this young lady up in order to preserve her dignity.

Brenda gets excited about mentoring our nurses on how to care for extensive wounds, fistulas, new ostomies, etc. She has a passion that is impossible not to see. I have worked for this company for 15 years, and when I ask myself who is one of the greatest nurses I have had the pleasure of meeting, Brenda is always first on that list.