I feel as though this nomination is extremely overdue. Over the years of working with this individual, I have seen him go above and beyond each day for every patient who is in his care, no matter how busy the day is or what he has going on in another room. Howie truly exemplifies nursing excellence as a role model for the entire nursing profession and has a positive impact on every patient he comes across. He is known for stopping by a patient’s room who is no longer in his care just to catch up with them and see how they are doing. He is also known for having shower caps on all of his 5 patients at 9 am because he just can’t say no to them.

While this nurse shows compassion and empathy daily, recently he was acknowledged by a patient of his on the day she was leaving to go home with hospice. This patient was here frequently due to her various health conditions related to cancer and was known to the floor. This particular admission was not like the others, she was much sicker and felt it. The patient talked about how terrible she felt and must have looked and just wanted to go home and feel better. This nurse took it upon himself to make sure she got home in the best possible shape. As her nurse, he ensured that her care was coordinated so she could go home in tip-top shape. He waited to drain her pleurex until the very last minute to make sure she went home in as little discomfort as possible, washed her up better than she had been in months, washed and brushed her hair, and helped her get dressed. He truly went above and beyond to make her feel that she was her most beautiful self for her last trip home to be with family. For the first time since she was in the hospital, she grinned ear to ear and was so incredibly happy and comfortable. Her nurse also grinned ear to ear and ran around the unit telling everyone how sharp his patient looked so that we could all go see her before she left. He was there to see her off to be with family.

Knowing this patient myself, that smile meant so much more than happiness. It meant she had her groove back, she felt like herself again, and had some pep in her step. The patient passed shortly after leaving the hospital and to no surprise, her top cheerleader, Howie, was there at her funeral to see her off to heaven.

I could write a novel on the ways that he has gone above and beyond his job description to benefit his coworkers and patients and why he is a DAISY Nurse, but the bottom line is that this nurse has not developed a special connection with one patient, but with every patient he comes across. He is an amazing member of the healthcare team and we are so lucky to have him.