...Tighist has been a nurse on CPCU for almost 5 years. Of those 5 years all 5 of them were spent trying to make patients feel better about what is going on in their lives. She goes above and beyond to assist balancing the schedule. She is willing to work both days and nights just so someone can go on vacation and stay that extra day or night. She not only cares for the patients and families but she cares deeply about her co-workers. As her Manager I have never once asked her to do something that was not done. Tighist is not "one" thing she is an entity. She buys lunch for family members, gives money to patients and I can't remember how many prescriptions we have all chipped in on with her at the helm. She has an innate ability to look past all of the disfigurement and sorrow of some patients and just see the person. She drives herself crazy making sure everything is neat and tidy and the patients and their room is perfect because they lost most of their control over their environment and everything else. She talks to them in a loving and caring manner that you would talk to your favorite family member in. Tighist is the epitome of CPCU. She shows care and concern 100% of the time whether she feels like it or not. The only thing that is important is the patient and the families and everything else will fall into place. Tighist is a state of mind. She is what nursing and caring are all about. If Florence was alive today she would have a tear in her eye watching Tighist care for her patients and she would be very proud; just as I am. She is a hero.

...

One Sunday recently, Tighist was leaving for the night (after a 13.5 hour shift) to return for another 12-hour shift the next morning. Her path to exit the hospital took her through the front lobby of the hospital. There, she found a patient in active labor and no one at the front desk. The patient and her family did not speak English. As fate would have it, Tighist did speak the native tongue of the patient and her family and was able to identify the patient's needs. Tighist promptly called CPCU and asked for a wheelchair to pick up the patient and take her to the 3rd floor to deliver her baby. Linda Green responded immediately, gathered the patient, and brought her to the correct department for care. Tighist remained with the patient and provided translation services to facilitate care and ease the patient's anxiety. I'm not sure how much longer Tighist stayed after she had clocked-out to go home, but I know a patient received time-appropriate, patient-centered, excellent care, a new baby was delivered safely, and UF Health was positively represented. Tighist is a true asset to the organization. Her caring and compassion extend beyond self to envelop the patients and community. She is such a beautiful individual.