Tony was caring for a patient who had been through the wringer during her extensive hospital stay. Her prognosis was poor and the patient was very weak and exhausted when arriving at our unit. The patient appeared scared and emotionally drained.
Tony was so gentle and kind with this patient, ensuring she was the most comfortable she could be in this situation. Tony was able to plan ahead and be prepared for her needs throughout the night. Tony provided gentle, dignified care even in moments where maintaining the patient's dignity took extra time but he advocated for that every single time. I overheard the patient say, "why are you just so nice to me?" The patient later told me how compassionate Tony had been and that he had made her feel like it was finally safe for her to rest because she knew she was in the best of hands.
The next morning, when the patient's husband arrived, he treated him with the same compassion and respect he had shown the patient all night. He was able to update the husband with professionalism yet still in terms the family would understand that helped things seem less overwhelming and scary. This is just one of many examples of the amazing nurse Tony is. He always finds a way to connect with his patients whether it be comedy, science, or in this case, compassion. Tony is the type of nurse even seasoned nurses look up to. I know when I grow up, I want to have the adaptability and knowledge Tony does.