My wife received an unexpected diagnosis of stage four cancer only one day after admission for an unrelated issue. Michelle Richards treated my wife with the utmost compassion and respect during this difficult time.

With Michelle at the “helm” the treatment my wife received was incredible. Michelle was always there before we even knew we needed her. Her actions and the way in which she performed tasks made the transition from treatment to comfort care seamless.

After meeting and observing Michelle, I discovered the 6 Cs of Nursing.

Care –Anything from cleaning my wife, IV insertion and management, changing fluids, emptying catheter bags, giving medications and even assisting in feeding my wife was all a part of Michelle’s care.

Compassion – Michelle’s tone of voice and facial expression was full of compassion each and every time she came into the room, making my wife feel cared for and loved. She even showed compassion for me by acquiring a bed because I wanted to stay with my wife.

Competence –Her skills appeared effortless and made us feel safe and secure. It was gratifying to watch her interactions with an RN trainee, proving she was very skilled and confident in her own abilities.

Communication- My wife and family always knew what task Michelle was performing, what was coming up with testing and what to expect. She spoke close to my wife’s ear, saying her name and speaking with gentleness. She also let other staff know of changes and testing that was needed and followed up to make sure they took place in a timely fashion.

Courage- When Michelle had to turn my wife and knew it would hurt, she did so with kindness and gentleness.

Commitment – Michelle was always there more than the 12 hours of her required shift . Before leaving, she made sure the nurses coming on duty were aware of my wife’s needs.

My wife passed away only nine days after leaving the hospital. We feel privileged to have had Michelle as her nurse.