July 2026 Honoree
Nick Koller, RN, CCRN
Nick was one of the most thoughtful, attentive, informative, and kind nurses who looked after my 77-year-old dad after his most recent (of three) open-heart surgery, and that is saying a lot because every one of the doctors, nurses, and specialists caring for my father at Mayo Clinic was phenomenal.
However, Nick showed a unique ability to discern the kind of interaction and communication style my dad needed in order to open up, fully trust his care team, and ultimately make the best recovery he could. Nick was incredibly patient with my dad (who is hard of hearing, and also happens to be extremely stubborn) and through a combination of deep listening, presenting a calm, steady, friendly demeanor and picking up on my dad's very particular sense of humor, he helped Dad feel comfortable sharing honest reports about how he was feeling, and most importantly speaking up about what he needed -- which is not something that comes easily for Dad even when he's feeling vulnerable.
Every time my family and I saw that Nick would be there looking after Dad, we felt completely assured he was in the best hands, and that he'd be as comfortable as possible. That allowed us to breathe more deeply, smile and wave goodnight, and finally rest and recharge properly without worrying, which in turn enabled us to show up feeling more energized and hopeful each morning when we'd come back to visit with Dad, which is exactly what he needed.
We were also so impressed with the way Nick was helping to train one of his colleagues by asking open-ended questions to gauge their confidence and understanding, and explaining things in a way that enabled everyone within earshot to grasp things more fully, which is especially impressive given that no one in my family has any kind of medical background!
We not only felt more informed, but more empowered to ask clarifying questions and understand (at least at a very basic, high level) what was going on in Dad's healing journey so we could better support him.
Nick was such a bright light in a terrifying, destabilizing time for all of us, and I'm endlessly grateful for the quality of his care. Thank you, Nick!
However, Nick showed a unique ability to discern the kind of interaction and communication style my dad needed in order to open up, fully trust his care team, and ultimately make the best recovery he could. Nick was incredibly patient with my dad (who is hard of hearing, and also happens to be extremely stubborn) and through a combination of deep listening, presenting a calm, steady, friendly demeanor and picking up on my dad's very particular sense of humor, he helped Dad feel comfortable sharing honest reports about how he was feeling, and most importantly speaking up about what he needed -- which is not something that comes easily for Dad even when he's feeling vulnerable.
Every time my family and I saw that Nick would be there looking after Dad, we felt completely assured he was in the best hands, and that he'd be as comfortable as possible. That allowed us to breathe more deeply, smile and wave goodnight, and finally rest and recharge properly without worrying, which in turn enabled us to show up feeling more energized and hopeful each morning when we'd come back to visit with Dad, which is exactly what he needed.
We were also so impressed with the way Nick was helping to train one of his colleagues by asking open-ended questions to gauge their confidence and understanding, and explaining things in a way that enabled everyone within earshot to grasp things more fully, which is especially impressive given that no one in my family has any kind of medical background!
We not only felt more informed, but more empowered to ask clarifying questions and understand (at least at a very basic, high level) what was going on in Dad's healing journey so we could better support him.
Nick was such a bright light in a terrifying, destabilizing time for all of us, and I'm endlessly grateful for the quality of his care. Thank you, Nick!
Thank you, Nick, for your exceptional compassion, advocacy, and dedication to your patients. You truly make a difference.
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