Even though Steph was my mom’s nurse once or twice, she was still very present during my mom’s care and in my daily life on the CCU. She was the most vigilant nurse on the floor when my mom’s nurses were not available. Nurse Steph made sure to connect with me through empathy during the low and high times – calming me down, given me reassurance, yet grounding me in reality. She has a finesse and “know how” and compassion for my mom and me that was above and beyond. She set the standard for all the other nurses. After 14 days in the CCU, I can confidently say that most other nurses did not compare.

Personally, Steph saw me at my worst and heard my grievances. She was delicate with her conflict resolution and demonstrated a fair balance of defending and supporting the other nurses while also empathizing with my concerns. Her ability to explain information to me in a clear, concise manner was excellent. She offered time for my questions and never made me feel like I was being rushed; in fact, she treated us (mom and me) like we were her 1st priority. I was blown away by her nursing skills and people skills, especially in reporting/dictating to other nurses throughout the day and at shift changes. I was impressed by the collaborative approach she took with the doctors and nurses. If she had a different opinion or had seen a different response in my mom than what others were seeing, she would respectfully make a suggestion to the doctor, and they would work together as a team to come to a decision or to find a solution. This, by far, told me that Steph is a trusted and highly respected nurse. She wasn’t just a nurse but a fierce advocate for my mom. Steph’s bedside manner, her vigilance, and demeanor gave me a sense of calm and relief when I felt like my whole world was crashing down on me. I could not have made it through these 2 weeks without Steph. She set the standard for what I expect in a nurse. My mom’s life depended on her, and the CCU and WellSpan Evangelical are incredibly lucky to have her on their team.