Ryan's nomination from a patient who was on rehab with glioblastoma reads:

"I can't say enough about Ryan! He was so kind and compassionate. He joked with me and I liked that. He brought coffee for me and my daughter when she brought cinnamon rolls. One day he introduced me to his wife and two children. That was so nice! When I needed my catheter site cleaned, he was very careful. He put me at ease and explained what and why he was doing it. On another day he read my daily devotional to me. Now that was beyond the call of duty! I can tell you that he loves his work and ALL of his patients." - The author/patient sadly passed away one week prior to Ryan's recognition of the DAISY Award.

...

Other patient recognitions come from gratitude shown for his efforts and help in building a ramp for a wheel chair bound patient who required a ramp to gain access into his house and for his relationship he built with a patient who had undergone an amputation. The wife of this last patient credits Ryan for "snapping" her husband out of his grumpiness and for encouraging her husband back to health and rehabilitation. Ryan has also been known to help groom male patients by providing them with haircuts and shaves. He has also painted female patients fingernails to improve their spirits and build on the nurse-patient relationship.