Brendan McElligott 2, RN

I was admitted to Tacoma General Hospital with Pancreatitis. I spent my first night in the ER in excruciating pain, in a bed in the hallway. The next day, I was moved to a room to start treatment. I met my daytime team the following morning after being moved. My nurse was Brendan. Over the course of the 3 days Brendan was my daytime nurse, from about 7 am-7:30 pm like clockwork. Brendan was incredibly attentive, an empath; he explained everything I didn’t understand in a way I could understand, a jokester who kept me laughing through the pain I was in. Brendan went above and beyond to make sure I was comfortable, to make sure any concerns or fears I had were heard. He advocated for me and was my voice. I’ve spent a lot of time in hospitals throughout my lifetime; I’ve never had the experience of having a nurse be so caring and compassionate as Brendan. He is someone who is truly personable & makes you feel like you’re more than just his patient; you’re like family.
Not only did he make sure I was taken care of, but he also went out of his way to get my fiancé food after hearing he hadn’t eaten all day, and he made sure my mother was taken care of while she spent the days with me by my side through the whole ordeal. One thing I will always remember Brendan saying to us is “we deserve better.” This phrase he said multiple times throughout the time he was my nurse, and little did he know, he was the better we all deserved. So thank you, Brendan, for taking care of me in my most vulnerable and painful time of need. You helped me through it more than you will ever know. You deserve everything good in this life; you’re the perfect person for this profession.

**This is Brendan's 2nd DAISY Award!