Out of 22 nurses on this unit, 17 of them started in 2020 or later as new graduates in the height of a pandemic. 13 of our 18 PCTs also started in 2020 or later. This entire team experienced significant changes in the way we usually handled patient care. For example, we have now experienced patients who had to die alone. This team took the time to sit with these patients and make them feel as if they were one of our own. Family members were FaceTimed, and patients were provided with handmade blankets and stuffed animals. Brand-new nurses stepped up to charge and precept. This team stuck by and supported one another in times when workloads were heavy, and staffing was short.

A letter from a patient who described being admitted in horrible pain, depression, and anxiety after a breast cancer diagnosis stated, "Coming here was the best decision ever." She described this team as her "guardian angel sent by God” and ended the letter by saying, "I feel blessed." This patient described what I believe this team does for every patient, in even the smallest ways. And finally, despite all the challenges, this young and amazing team has excelled in patient satisfaction for many months in a row.