I would like to shine the light on one of MED1 nurses who is a true patriot when it comes to honoring her Oath and Icare Values when it comes to providing excellent caring for her/our Veterans. It all started one night with a late admission of an elderly man, who, at the time, I didn’t know was dealing with being diagnosed with cancer. The man was very tired and weak. So, weak that he was unable to bathe himself. He was extremely embarrassed and emotional when the nurse asked him about his living conditions. He said he lived with his brother, and he is still working, even with being diagnosed with cancer. As the nurse continued asking questions pertaining to ADLs, he became very emotional and said he was just too weak to do it for himself. The nurse asked him if we helped him and if he would like to take a shower. He said he would love that, which made him even more emotional, and he started crying. I was asked to gather the things to help him in the shower. When I returned, the nurse was using warm wet wipes to clean the veteran's feet and legs. He was crying and saying "thank you" over and over. She asked me if I would get her some more warm wipes. She was going to clean him up in the bed because he told her he was too weak, tired, and hungry to try to get in the shower. I went to get more wet wipes and when I returned, she was cleaning his hands and said she was going to clean his face and behind his ears.

Her compassion was very overwhelming, not just to our Veteran, but to me as well. She asked if I would go warm him up some tomato soup for him, and when I returned with the soup, she was able to get him to change into pajamas and had him lying in bed. I heard him say he had to work but became too weak to do so. The nurse let him know he was in her care, and everything was going to be ok. She had me give him his soup and told him to try to get some sleep. Her compassion was so overwhelming that when I went to go check on him later, he thanked me and said he really was grateful to his nurse for cleaning him up. I told him he has a great nurse, and I would let her know the feelings he expressed to me. I told the nurse she did an awesome job, and she thanked me. That’s when she told me he has cancer, and that is why he is here.

I have witnessed many times nurses doing amazing jobs when it comes to providing care to our veterans. But for some reason, this time, it affected me and has not left my thoughts. Because of that, this is my first time submitting someone for a DAISY Award. I would like you to please consider RN Lisandra M. Quiles for The DAISY Award for not just being a great nurse here at the Dayton VA, but an amazing patriot to our Veterans. It has always been an honor to work side by side with her as well as with all the others who have decided to dedicate their lives to caring for our heroes.