My dad went into the hospital for routine hernia surgery, which snowballed from there into multiple medical emergencies. After a second surgery and another stint in the ICU, he was transferred. I had been progressively more concerned about how swollen he was overall, especially his arm with the PICC line. With a buoyant personality and a matter-of-fact approach, Tenisha came in on her first day, assisting my dad, and immediately noticed how much worse his PICC line arm was than the other side. She listened to me carefully, conveyed her concerns, and then relayed them all to the doctor.

While waiting for more information, she changed the PICC line and underscored the importance of an ultrasound to the staff. Her concern was for blood clots around the line, and because of her tenacity, an ultrasound was ordered. My dad did have a blood clot in his arm. Tenisha's meticulousness saved his life. Furthermore, she performed a thorough examination of his skin when I mentioned a rash, noting irritation and generalized skin breakdown due to his prolonged hospital stay. She echoed our desire to see Lasix added to his treatment and found several wounds on his abdomen from the abdominal binder. She outlined these concerns to the doctor, who adjusted the treatment plan. Tenisha is a strong, smart, capable nurse, but more than that, she actively listens. She does not dismiss the concerns of her patients or their families. Tenisha always demonstrated a soothing, calm presence, and her eagle-eyed attention to detail is only matched by her compassion and kindness. Because of that unwavering commitment to her patients and their families, Tenisha deserves this award.