Naphtali Gonzales 2, BSN

I want to give a special thank you to Nap the nurse, who kept me very calm and relaxed during my anxiety attacks on the neuro step-down unit. I originally came in for spinal cord compression, which keeps me from doing a lot of activities. Doctors told me I would need surgery, which brought my depression and anxiety up, but RN Nap came over and sat down with me for a few minutes. I opened up about my worries about the surgery, what’s to come, and feeling a bit isolated. Nap was there for me all night, explaining each treatment before it happened, and he helped make the room feel peaceful by dimming the lights and keeping the noise down. By the end of the night, I smiled and thanked Nap for making me feel safe during one of the hardest moments of my life. That experience reminded me that being a nurse is not only about treating physical conditions, but also about caring for a patient emotionally when they need it most.