Joe Bartell, RN

I don’t have enough words to express my gratitude for Joe; his compassionate heart, coupled with years of experience, makes him a superhuman nurse! Joe found time in his busy work schedule to invest emotionally and mentally in both my husband and me. My husband, N, came back to our room after holding our baby in the NICU, and I could feel a sense of relief from him. He told me how Joe sat with him and helped address deep anxieties and fears plaguing him. Joe's many years of experience gave him insight into N's mind and emotions, and he spoke encouragement and relief into N's inner turmoil. This amazed me because N is not one to open up easily, but Joe quickly addressed key issues and offered advice that fit exactly where N was. N was moved to tears multiple times and said he thought Joe was an angel in a nurse’s uniform. In our 11 years of marriage, I can’t think of anyone else who has impacted N so much in such a short time.

Joe amazed me again with his attention to detail in my baby E's changes throughout the day. His knowledge of changes in his cries, attention to E's emotional state, swiftness to respond to alarms going off, and ability to move from room to room, giving each baby the same level of love and attention, astonished me! Joe also spent time with me and had the best metaphors to explain some of the feelings and emotions I was going through. His words calmed my spirit and allowed me to process what we were going through, both in the NICU and in our family life at home. He bridged the gap by explaining some of N’s anxieties and feelings in a way I could understand. In the years to come, when I think back upon this experience, I will think of Joe and his compassion and kindness towards us. How, even though he was tired and had a list of things to do, he was emotionally invested in us, as well as taking phenomenal care of our son! I can honestly say that this time at the NICU was a blessing when it could’ve easily been a time of fear and anxiety.