August 2026 Honoree
Taylor Weispfennig, RN
Taylor was not my daughter's primary nurse. He was called to the bedside initially to help get an IV placed. He came in the room with a confidence that made us feel that he would be able to get the IV in without a problem. He asked which arm she wanted the IV placed in and then utilized the ultrasound to see what vein would be best to go for.
He talked about each step of the process and what he was seeing, which helped ease my daughter's anxiety and nerves. She is always scared and worried about the IV process despite having many placed in her history, so hearing him explain everything helped her mind stay aware of everything rather than her mind going to worst-case thoughts.
He even brought a humble story about starting an IV in OB in which he got it in and had to step away due to feeling lightheaded. He was human and relatable. He got my daughter's IV in with ease on his 1st try and minimal discomfort both mentally and physically.
However, I was a mess and couldn't stop crying. As we moved rooms to prepare for a lumbar puncture, he said, "Is there anything I can get for you? A water? Anything?" I said, "No, I'm alright." He said, "I'll get you a water," and came back with a cold bottle of Smart Water. He read the room and could tell I was on the struggle bus.
When it came time for the lumbar puncture, he helped get the Propofol ready and made sure all lines were ready for the procedure. This wasn't his first time assisting; you could tell. He watched the clock, making sure to call out when 2 minutes had passed, as more Propofol may be needed, and kept his eyes on her vitals as well as her response to the procedure.
His bedside presence was reassuring. I knew we were in excellent hands. I had boasted about him to other nurses when I explained what happened, and every one of them also expressed how awesome he is!
He talked about each step of the process and what he was seeing, which helped ease my daughter's anxiety and nerves. She is always scared and worried about the IV process despite having many placed in her history, so hearing him explain everything helped her mind stay aware of everything rather than her mind going to worst-case thoughts.
He even brought a humble story about starting an IV in OB in which he got it in and had to step away due to feeling lightheaded. He was human and relatable. He got my daughter's IV in with ease on his 1st try and minimal discomfort both mentally and physically.
However, I was a mess and couldn't stop crying. As we moved rooms to prepare for a lumbar puncture, he said, "Is there anything I can get for you? A water? Anything?" I said, "No, I'm alright." He said, "I'll get you a water," and came back with a cold bottle of Smart Water. He read the room and could tell I was on the struggle bus.
When it came time for the lumbar puncture, he helped get the Propofol ready and made sure all lines were ready for the procedure. This wasn't his first time assisting; you could tell. He watched the clock, making sure to call out when 2 minutes had passed, as more Propofol may be needed, and kept his eyes on her vitals as well as her response to the procedure.
His bedside presence was reassuring. I knew we were in excellent hands. I had boasted about him to other nurses when I explained what happened, and every one of them also expressed how awesome he is!
Thank you, Taylor, for your exceptional compassion, advocacy, and dedication to your patients. You truly make a difference.
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