I have worked with Mike for almost 20 years at the bedside and in roles where our paths didn't always cross on a daily basis. During this time with Mike, I have witnessed his passion, compassion, and empathy for our patients and their families as well as his coworkers and students. Mike always goes above and beyond to teach our future nurses as well as new orientees to Mike. His outgoing and gregarious personality makes the entire unit an excellent place to work.
Most recently we had one of our more tragic experiences with a father who had a myocardial infarction with prolonged downtime in the field. This patient arrested, was given CPR in the field, and was brought to our organization. He received excellent care from our Catheterization Unit staff and was brought to Mike. Mike took care of this critically ill patient while paying significant attention to the family.
Ultimately this man transitioned to comfort care and Mike was requested by the family to be the nurse that provided care that night when support was withdrawn. I watched him provide the necessary care and attention to him, his wife, and his children. The image that I recall vividly that night is when he passed, Mike was hugging the patient's sobbing wife in the hallway consoling her. I could tell the relationship that he had developed with that family made the horrific, life-changing moment a little bit more tolerable. I am proud to have Mike not only as a teammate and nurse but to call him a friend.