Melissa Sheppard, BSN, RN, SCRN

Melissa was incredibly kind and compassionate. I don’t know if I can adequately articulate how much that was appreciated. She was encouraging and understanding of my fears and worked with me to address them. I felt understood by her, and that was an incredible relief. I was actually sad when there was a shift change because Melissa’s approach was so friendly and reassuring. It made me feel better when she would walk into the room. Her compassion made me feel confident in my stay. It made me feel hopeful that I would get through this experience with less stress and grief. The other nurses who came in were lovely too, but Melissa was such a standout. The emotional support and warm approach made this stay positive, even though I was very nervous. I expressed to her that I have anxiety and that hospital settings aren’t easy for me. I also told her some additional fears, and she jumped in to ease them. Her disposition itself was comforting, and she stood out immediately. She went above and beyond, and I will always remember her and be thankful for this experience.