What makes an exceptional nurse? The exceptional nurse is a kind-hearted, compassionate and caring person with strong communication skills- someone who listens well and puts the patient first. An exceptional nurse, of course, has strong clinical skills, keen attention to detail, and a commitment to the highest standards of care. David exceeds these qualifications.

My husband "J" has needed that kind-hearted, compassionate care as he has dealt with extreme PTSD after his heart attack. If you were any onlooker, you'd have thought my husband was his only patient as he took his time in consoling, reassuring, and comforting my husband. "J" has been unable to see, which has complicated his condition. Some nurses have gotten impatient and even grinned at one another as if in amusement as they've gotten impatient with his frequent needs. David never once showed any impatience with my husband. He listened attentively to my husband's needs. To further complicate "J's" frustrations, he’s been on a fluid restriction because of his low sodium. Even when my husband yelled at him, David stood patiently listening, never saying a word until my husband was through. Then he explained the reasoning for the restrictions again and fed him a few ice cubes and put Vaseline on his lips to comfort him.

My husband has been in pain and it's hard for him to get comfortable. David has adjusted and readjusted him again and again and didn't leave his bedside until he felt comfortable. He's gone beyond the call of duty. Many times, David transported my husband to dialysis to keep him from waiting, since dialysis has been such a source of anxiety for him. On one occasion, my husband called me in tears while in dialysis because he had had a bowel movement that was burning his skin because of a wound he has on his bottom. Without hesitation, David went to his rescue to take the ointment to dialysis to soothe the burning.

Several times when transportation was busy, David went upstairs and rescued my husband and brought him back to the floor to soothe his anxiety at being up there alone. As family members, we have had a lot of questions regarding my husband's health. It's been a very scary experience for us, especially where he wasn't expected to live. David's knowledge and expertise in clinical skills have been a very large source of comfort to us, knowing he was in good hands when David was around, and he was able to skillfully answer our questions.

As a family, we truly believe David holds the highest standards of nursing care as his motto. I think what stands out to us the most is David’s wisdom and ability to be an encourager. At my husband's weakest moment when he was about to give up, David talked to him about his progress and how even though it didn't seem like much, he was making tremendous strides. Even something so small as being able to urinate, David said "we need to celebrate the little daily successes in recovery."

Today was the last day of David's work week, but he told my husband if he didn't see him, he'd stop in to see how he was doing. Although his shift was over, David changed my husband to make sure he was comfortable before he left. He left a smile on all our faces at the thought that a total stranger should care so deeply about another human being. As he walked out the door, my husband called him back into the room and asked David if he could pray for him. "J" asked God to bless David for his kindness, his compassion, and for the difference he made in a very difficult chapter of his life. Chapters open and close in so many patients' lives in the hospital setting. But a truly happy ending to every story is a nurse who treats each human being as if they were his own family. Thanks, David. You're truly one in a million.