Danielle handled a devastating situation with utmost compassion, empathy, sympathy, patience, and knowledge. Unfortunately, a 36-year-old male patient on our unit declined rapidly due to being unaware of the fact that he was living with AIDS for some time. The patient’s mentation declined rapidly, and he is/was actively dying. The family began pouring in in large groups, and Danielle handled the situation with a grace many nurses would have difficulty doing. She juggled allowing the designated amount of visitors with the patient per hospital policy while arranging for the many other family members to have a place to sit and discuss with each other.

She answered any and all questions she could while following HIPAA laws, and instructed the family members to whom she should not provide information, whom they needed to speak with for health into. She had palliative care come meet with the family, all while still providing excellent care to his patient, the rest of her patients, and even assisting the rest of the nurses and techs on the unit on this very busy and emotionally draining day.

Danielle had only just recently become an RN after working here for years as a PCT, but she showed the maturity and professionalism of a seasoned nurse. It was inspiring to watch her make a difference, and do what she is very clearly meant to do.