When admitted, I was seriously ill, very weak, and felt delirious and scared. Nurse Raquel was my first day nurse and she greeted me as if I was checking into the finest upscale hotel in South Carolina! After getting me settled, she presented a brief orientation to hospital procedures explaining the menu and how to order. I almost felt like a guest in her home. Because I thought I would only have an ER visit and then go home, I was totally unprepared for a long hospital stay. I had with me my wallet, stuffed with cash and credit cards. I was not up to going through the inventory needed to check the wallet with security, so Nurse Raquel accomplished this with the security staff as a witness. She was so cheerful and funny as she organized and double-checked everything in my wallet. She took all the time needed to complete this important task and never made me feel like she was in a rush to get to another patient. During my 10 day stay, Raquel was my main nurse and I missed her when she wasn't there. She was always cheerful and happy to see me. I am a senior citizen and live alone at home so I am not used to a lot of activity. She used a few charming endearments now and then, but she asked about my job and treated me like an adult, with respect. I appreciated this.
But, the main reason I want to nominate Nurse Raquel is that she assumed a much needed role as my advocate. Because I was being treated for a heart condition and Irritable Bowel Syndrome, many doctors rotated in and out of my room. Some barely introduced themselves. I was put on a lot of new medications. I had never heard of Ulcerative Colitis or Crohn's Disease. Raquel explained everything to me and got me printed information. She located another nurse who had Crohn's who counseled me assuring me that with the proper diet, this disease could be managed. I felt so much better after speaking with her. Toward the end of my stay I was scheduled for a colonoscopy. Raquel took my side to help me avoid an unnecessarily stressful and harsh prep for this. She went above and beyond to advocate for me and encouraged others to see that my individual case did not need procedure followed by rote. She truly deserves the DAISY Award.