Gina always practices at a high level, but in this specific example I saw how she not only showed her stellar nursing skills as she took care of a very critically ill patient, but also her compassion to the patient's family. Every shift that Gina worked, she took care of S.S. and I witnessed her spending extended periods of time at the bedside explaining the status to the family members in a way that they could understand.

The patient's social situation was complicated, but Gina showed such respect and empathy to each family member, I believe she is an example to all members of the multi-disciplinary team of how we should model ourselves while interacting with patients and their families. The patient ended up on the ventilator, paralyzed, and on CRRT. Despite all our medical expertise and knowledge, her status declined to the point of the doctors informing the family members that she would not survive this hospitalization.

Gina listened to their questions, concerns, and anxieties and in a professional and gentle manner helped them through their acceptance process. I witnessed the parents and significant other's rapport and trust in Gina and I honestly believe that without Gina's part in the medical team's care of this patient, she would not have survived as long as she did and the family would not have been as accepting of the situation as they came to be.

The list goes on of what Gina did that was well above and beyond the bedside nursing role, but one that really left an impression on me was when she spent two hours at the bedside letting the patient's significant other reminisce and talked about his thoughts about the patient's dire situation.