Nurse Jen Kelly is an exceptional, knowledgeable, compassionate nurse who went beyond expectations for my recent care at the VAPHS. She also is compassionate to patient needs and has a good sense of humor and is a conversationalist. I had a bad day the day of the visit as I learned I was diabetic. My PCP immediately sent me to ER. My vision was blurry, I had extreme dehydration i.e. cottonmouth and uncontrollable urination. My sugar was well over 400. Nurse Kelly assured me things will be ok. She kept me in the know with the ER doctor as it was getting late in the evening and the doctor staff was leaving for the day. For the sake of not staying the night to be monitored, Jen helped immensely. I did not want to stay the night but the specialist to show me how to use new diabetic equipment went home. Thanks to Nurse Kelly's diabetes knowledge, she was able to show me how to use an insulin injector and Accu check glucose meter. Without her showing me I would have had to stay until the next day. I was able to go home that evening with confidence in my new equipment thanks to Jen.

Throughout my stay, we had enjoyable cordial conversations that helped ease my anxiety. Her professionalism, knowledge, and compassion are why she is a DAISY Nurse. I try to stop and say hello and update her on my sugar levels on my post trips to VAPHS and she stops and talks when she has time. I enjoy seeing her on my follow-ups and we always smile at some point during the quick hello.

To date, my sugar levels have been in the safe range the past couple of months and all my high sugar-related symptoms are gone. I recently got cleared on vision that my eyes are in good health and suffered no permanent damage from months of high sugar blurriness. Thank you, Nurse Jen Kelly. You are much appreciated, and I thank you for your service.