Jamie L Jamison, BSN, RN III, CCRN

Our father was admitted to Roanoke Memorial Hospital on Friday. He was flown by helicopter after suffering a major heart attack. Jamie was his day nurse on Saturday. She was kind and gentle in how she explained not only the interventions being used to treat him but also in how she spoke with us and our mother. As I visited with our dad in the room, I told her stories about him and she listened as a friend would, despite only meeting us that day. She had a student with her that day, and she treated that student with the utmost respect and mentored her as I would hope to be mentored in such an intense environment. On the night, after she had only been with our dad for one shift, (which to us felt like an eternity) she stayed after her shift to pay her respects after learning that we made the difficult decision to cease medical interventions. I will never forget her kind voice, or her kind words during the most difficult day in our family's life. Even if she doesn't win, she has all my gratitude and respect forever.