I have the unique experience of nominating somebody for their excellent patient care when I was the patient. I am a nurse on Maternity and before that I worked in Labor & Delivery as the housekeeper while I was in nursing school. On January 24, 2012 I was a patient on Labor & Delivery as I was being induced for hypertension. My induction turned into a 60+ hour induction that ended in a c-section.

Michelle Tuel was my nurse on night shift for at least 2 shifts and was with me for my c-section. Michelle came in each night with such a freshness and optimistic attitude, which I really needed after facing such a long induction. She laid out the plan and possibilities for each night and answered any questions that I had. If I mentioned any discomfort or problems I was having she promptly tried to find a solution so I could rest well each night. She checked on me often and kept me updated with the plan of care. Finally on January 26th after making little progress my doctor decided to do a c-section. Michelle explained everything to me in great detail, as she would any other patient. She never assumed I knew anything based on the fact that I have experience in Labor & Delivery. The fact that she took the time to explain rather than assume I knew what to expect was a huge factor in how well my birth experience went.

I felt totally comfortable going into the c-section and I knew Michelle was there to advocate for me. She asked questions of the anesthesiologists that she already knew the answers to, just so that I could hear the answer and feel more comfortable. There are so many things going through your head when preparing for surgery and having a fresh, clear mind there to ask questions for you is huge. During my surgery she kept me informed on what was going on. She knew I was upset to loose the bonding time after the baby was born and she made sure that he was able to stay in the operating room with me. I was never separated from my baby while I was in her care. My birth experience was such a great memory for me and I do not know what it would have been like without Michelle.

The description of the DAISY award nominee is:
"..recognize extraordinary nurses everywhere who make an enormous difference in the lives of so many people by the super-human work they do everyday." That description is exactly how I feel about the care I received by Michelle Tuel while I was a patient in her care. She is compassionate, caring and a huge patient advocate. She was on my team from start to finish and I always felt like I was her #1 priority, even when there was so much going on.

As a hospital employee I am also proud to have Michelle as a co-worker because I know our patients are receiving the best care.