Susan Fernandes, RN, BSN

My husband and I got married this past September, and in February, on his way to pick me up from work, he stopped to help someone who crashed on Route 24. On his way back to his car, another car lost control and hit him. He was brought to St. Luke's in New Bedford and was in the ICU for a few days before he was moved to the Orthopedic unit the day after the record-breaking snowstorm. At that point, our families had flown into MA but were stuck at the hotel which left him and I at the hospital. That's when we met Sue, the hospital was shorthanded because many nurses couldn't make it in due to the weather and Sue took such incredible care of us. She truly went above and beyond to make sure we felt comfortable and took unbelievable care of my husband. He had broken both his legs, both of his scapulas, a rib, and had a minor brain injury, and she consistently checked in with us to make sure he was doing okay. She would come in and chat with us every morning, and allowed me to stay with him every night so that we could both find peace after such a traumatic event. In the scariest, hardest days of our lives, Sue made every day a little easier; she treated us like we were her own family. Not only did Sue make such an impact in how she treated us, but the way she guides her team is inspirational. She has built a team that goes above and beyond at every step. We were overwhelmed by the kindness and dedication to excellence that all the nurses and CNAs had on the orthopedic floor. It is beyond clear that Sue is not only an excellent nurse, but she is an incredible inspiration to all the nurses who work under her. I cannot say enough to express how grateful we are for her. No one deserves recognition more than she does. From the bottom of our hearts, we want to thank her.