On this day, my aunt and I spent the day at the hospital with my grandma. We are both nurses and were definitely being overly inquisitive, asking Nicole a million questions and voicing our concerns. I know how frustrating this can be for a nurse, especially when you have numerous other responsibilities that require your care and attention.

 

Nicole could not have been more amazing! She answered every single one of our questions and followed up with the providers for every question she didn't immediately have an answer to. My family felt that she was really listening to us and taking our concerns seriously. She also showed phenomenal patience with my grandmother, answering all her questions even though my grandma had asked the same question multiple times. My grandma was also having vivid hallucinations, and Nicole eased her fears, reassuring her that she was safe.

 

Seeing Nicole in action put my family at ease. Neither my aunt nor I live in the Chicagoland area anymore. We flew in when my grandma was admitted. Having Nicole as my grandma's nurse gave me the peace of mind that even though I live across the country, there are people here who will ensure she is taken care of. She truly embodies the values of an exceptional nurse: compassionate, empathetic, possessing great communication skills, meticulous attention to detail, clinical expertise, and patience with patients and their families alike. I wish Nicole could have been my grandma's nurse every day. I would like to thank her for everything she did for my grandma and our family. There is nothing more reassuring in uncertain times than knowing your loved one's nurse is providing the same level of care and compassion that you would give them yourself.