My husband had been in and out of hospitals for 162 days. During that time, he had many different doctors, hospitalists, and physical and occupational therapists. I spent every day with him at the hospital or rehab facility. So, I know what a difference a good nurse can make. This year, my husband had major back surgery and was in Flagstaff Medical Center.

During this time, his nurse, Schuyler, was extremely attentive, positive, knowledgeable, and professional. When my husband's blood pressure dropped, she tried multiple ways of testing it and contacted the doctor, who said to give him IV fluids. She also explained to him the importance of drinking water and using the spirometer for breathing. A wound care nurse was not available, so Schuyler applied bandages to three different wounds on my husband's body. She made sure there were two pillows under his legs and that he had compression socks and compression devices on his legs. She checked his fluid retention several times and explained that he would need a catheter if he retained too much fluid.

To help him empty his bladder, Schuyler let him listen to waterfall music on her iPhone. It helped, and he didn't need a catheter. Anytime he needed to use the call button, she responded promptly and enthusiastically. In summary, her beautiful smile, professional yet kind demeanor, attention to all protocols, and sincere desire to help my husband in any way made his stay at FMC as pleasant as possible. Schuyler epitomizes what a good nurse looks and acts like.