My mother was recently hospitalized for a couple of days. She received care from multiple staff members. Although most of them showed their concern, one really stood out as being an extraordinary professional and caring individual.
Brandi Reinke not only performed her required duties of checking on Mother's vitals and administering her care, but she explained issues and terminology in easy to understand terms.
She advised on home care once released and situations to avoid, routines to change, danger signs to be aware of, and other information to avoid a return trip to the hospital.
She was very friendly and made our family feel more like friends than as a patient and her family. She shared stories and experiences from common community businesses to fully engage us that really made us feel like we are all in this life together as a community with interactions and life paths that cross beyond the walls of the hospital.
Brandi's shift was supposed to end at 7 pm. At 7:15 pm she came into the room for a final check on my mom. My mom asked if she would be willing to clean her partial teeth replacements. Brandi gladly took my mom's partial denture plates and cleaned them as she was giving us the final doctor's orders from that day. Brandi always had a smile and brightened the darkness of a hospital stay.
At 7:30 Brandi again returned with the night staff to introduce them to us and assure us that my mom was in good hands.
Brandi not only did her job professionally and joyfully but she made all of us feel comfortable and at ease as she strove to improve my mom's condition before the end of her shift. My mom's condition improved about one hour after Brandi left for the day.