My Sister-in-law was recently hospitalized and unfortunately died on 7 South. She and our family were so comforted by the incredible care that Christy Miller, RN provided. Christy recognized that she was in pain and that it was not being effectively managed. She obtained an order for morphine which assured that the last days were not pain-filled.

Christy also noted immediately that the so-important purple band had not yet been placed on her wrist-she promptly corrected that. The implications of that small oversight are unthinkable. She also thoughtfully moved us to a private room. It should be noted that Christy took these actions without being assigned to the patient.

In the following days, Christy kept us well informed on every aspect of her care and condition. I believe without her strong advocacy and excellent care this would have been a much more painful ordeal than it ultimately was.

Having practiced as an RN in acute care settings for 32 years, I have come to view nursing as much an art as a profession. It is not enough to be strong clinically or to have knowledge. We have many, many very good nurses here and fortunately we have exceptional ones like Christy Miller- combining strong advocacy, knowledge, skill, compassion, leadership, and the willingness to intervene to do what is right.

I speak for my entire family when I say that the direct care given by those at the bedside was the only thing that mattered to us and the impact that Christy had on that was dramatic.