May 2026 Honoree
Nate Long, LPN
I came in one evening at 5:30 p.m. with strep throat, two sick kids (ages 2 and 6), and zero sanity left to spare. My husband was away on a business trip, the kids hadn’t eaten yet, and all three of us were verging on complete meltdown territory.
Enter Nurse Nate, the picture of patience and good humor, who somehow managed to turn what could’ve been a full-blown disaster into a genuinely positive experience.
From the moment we walked in, Nate showed remarkable grace. He didn’t flinch when my kids, who weren’t even the patients, began their slow descent into chaos. Instead, he built instant rapport, chatting with them about Teenage Mutant Ninja Turtles while I wrestled with the Netflix app in a desperate attempt to keep them entertained.
Despite it being the end of the day, when everyone on staff was surely dreaming of dinner and pajamas, Nate remained fully present. He listened carefully as I described my symptoms, dodging toddler interruptions like a seasoned pro.
I’d come in for a COVID PCR test, but Nate, ever the sharp clinician, suggested adding a strep test. It hadn’t even crossed my mind, but sure enough, he was right!
When I mentioned that my kids might also have strep, Nate somehow managed to squeeze my son into the schedule, well past closing time, without ever making us feel rushed or like an inconvenience. And when the time came to swab my wriggling 2-year-old (a true Olympic event), he handled it with patience and good humor.
As we wrapped up, Nate handed the kids long ribbons of stickers. My 6-year-old, of course, had to inspect every single one. Nate took it all in stride, smiling the whole time.
What could have easily been a nightmare appointment became a surprisingly warm, human, even funny evening thanks to his kindness, intuition, and professionalism.
Nurse Nate didn’t just provide excellent care; he gave a frazzled mom a break and made two sick kids feel safe and seen. He absolutely deserves corporate-level recognition for his compassion, humor, and all-around nursing brilliance.
Enter Nurse Nate, the picture of patience and good humor, who somehow managed to turn what could’ve been a full-blown disaster into a genuinely positive experience.
From the moment we walked in, Nate showed remarkable grace. He didn’t flinch when my kids, who weren’t even the patients, began their slow descent into chaos. Instead, he built instant rapport, chatting with them about Teenage Mutant Ninja Turtles while I wrestled with the Netflix app in a desperate attempt to keep them entertained.
Despite it being the end of the day, when everyone on staff was surely dreaming of dinner and pajamas, Nate remained fully present. He listened carefully as I described my symptoms, dodging toddler interruptions like a seasoned pro.
I’d come in for a COVID PCR test, but Nate, ever the sharp clinician, suggested adding a strep test. It hadn’t even crossed my mind, but sure enough, he was right!
When I mentioned that my kids might also have strep, Nate somehow managed to squeeze my son into the schedule, well past closing time, without ever making us feel rushed or like an inconvenience. And when the time came to swab my wriggling 2-year-old (a true Olympic event), he handled it with patience and good humor.
As we wrapped up, Nate handed the kids long ribbons of stickers. My 6-year-old, of course, had to inspect every single one. Nate took it all in stride, smiling the whole time.
What could have easily been a nightmare appointment became a surprisingly warm, human, even funny evening thanks to his kindness, intuition, and professionalism.
Nurse Nate didn’t just provide excellent care; he gave a frazzled mom a break and made two sick kids feel safe and seen. He absolutely deserves corporate-level recognition for his compassion, humor, and all-around nursing brilliance.
Thank you, Nate, for your exceptional compassion, advocacy, and dedication to your patients. You truly make a difference.
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