Michael is the true definition of hope for patients who are feeling they should give up and not continue with their care. Michael puts his health struggles behind and listens to his patients and offers what they want most from him, time, and someone to listen to their fears, concerns, and worries, which Michael does daily. He makes the time, and the patient feels as though they are the only ones he has to care for that day.
Michael has patients who can sometimes be rude or yelling at him, and he says with a smile, "they are just having a bad day", or "they are this way because they do not feel well." He never gets upset or angry with his patients or their families as he puts himself in their shoes to understand where they are coming from, and perhaps why they are upset. He will go back into the room and speak to them with a calm voice to let them know he is here to help them.
Michael looks for solutions to rectify any problem he comes across to give the best patient experience. Our unit does a Service Excellence recognition program of our own, and Michael is the only one so far to receive two pins from patients writing so many Notes of Praise for his amazing care. I can understand why he receives the praise he does as I have seen him take patients in the lobby and sit with them until their family arrives, so they are safely in their vehicles even though he will be further behind; he says "It will be ok." Some people may say this is what a nurse gets paid to do, well, how often do we see or hear this happen?
Michael does not change what he does and he doesn't see a "patient" but he does see a "person" and that is what makes him different from some other staff. Michael has a big smile for everyone he meets, a listening ear for someone's fears, and a reassuring voice to let you know, "it will be ok." As I think of qualities a DAISY Nurse should have, I think of Michael Escalante and his ability to be a one of a kind nurse.