Maria Teresa Palma-Valerio, RN

A patient was admitted to the hospital for cardiac surgery and spent four days in the critical care unit. As the surgery approached, the patient's anxiety began to escalate. However, Tess, his nurse over the weekend, provided exceptional care and support, alleviating his concerns. Tess demonstrated unwavering dedication and compassion, spending significant time attending to the patient's needs. By Monday morning, the patient was noticeably uplifted, sporting a huge smile and expressing gratitude for Tess's comforting presence. He appeared rejuvenated, with a freshly shaven face and clean hair, attributing his decreased anxiety and newfound positivity to Tess's attentive care. As he was being prepared for surgery, he couldn't stop praising Tess, entering the operating room with confidence and gratitude for her remarkable impact on his well-being. Tess's actions proved to be transformative for this patient, significantly improving his experience. It is often time that we are limited with throughout our day, however, Tess continued to care for this patient like she had endless time.