Christopher Nelms, BSN, RN, CCRN

Chris Nelms was taking care of a young 32-year-old spina bifida patient who presented to our unit in septic shock requiring many pressors and eventually ended up on CRRT. The patient’s mother and father stayed at the bedside night and day for days helping the staff around the clock with her care. In the patient’s last hours Chris decided to take an ultrasound and recorded the patient’s heartbeat to put in a bear for the mother to keep forever. Her family will forever be grateful and touched by Chris’s gesture. This is only one example of how compassionate and sincere Chris is in providing outstanding patient care. This particular patient’s mother was with her daughter for years dealing with illness after illness until her body could not fight anymore and I know she will hold a dear place in her heart for this small deed that Chris did. He is very deserving of this award because it encompasses so much of what nursing is all about.