It is never easy to find yourself a patient in the health care equation. It is especially difficult when you are scared, uncomfortable, and everything that is happening is totally unexpected. Last Wednesday I was expecting my wife to pick me up and take me home after a night of observation following a concussion I sustained the day before. Instead, my blood pressure sky-rocketed and wasn't responding to treatment and I found myself being transferred to ICU. During the course of the day as more and more testing ensued, more problems were identified. This was not boding well for the "easy" recovery at home I had been anticipating. So, in addition to high blood pressure, my anxiety level was building.

My nurse for the day was Kitty. Kitty is an incredible nurse. She is part Pit Bull (she will not let go of a problem until she finds answers), part rocket scientist (OK, we have this, this and this, let's look at this for a solution, if that doesn't work we will do this.), and part Tom Hanks in "A League of Their Own" (there's no crying in baseball - we're not done yet). All this is wrapped up in an incredible nursing package of skill, competence, tough-love kindness, and a "can do" attitude.

I really appreciated the manner in which Kitty cared for me, keeping me and my providers aware of what was happening as the day wore on; keeping my spirits up, and always thinking three steps ahead, anticipating the best, and solutions for the worst. She really listened to me. She respected my knowledge as a physician, that I was scared and that the things that were happening were not in my area of expertise.

But, her willingness to go the extra mile was what made her rise to the top in my estimation. Even though her shift was over, she stayed on an extra 4 hours to take care of me. This was comforting to me as a patient. She came back in the next morning just as bright and ready as the day before. I knew I was in good hands.

Kitty truly represents the best of the nursing profession, she is deserving of a DAISY Award.