Annette (Annie) Geminder, 6 ICU
Annette’s compassion and her knack for forming meainingful, comforting relationships with her patients resonated with one of her patient’s family members in particular. This instance serves as a mere sample of the great work she does here at UCLA Health System every day.
“I would like to nominate Annie Geminder from the 6W Neuro/Trauma ICU for the Daisy Award. My husband was admitted to the 6W ICU and stayed in the ICU for 13 days before being moved to another facility. The 2 weeks in ICU were a roller coaster of emotions for my daughter and me as we waited to see if my husband would survive his brain injury. Each day seemed to last forever, but through it all there was one nurse who was a constant and caring ray of hope, her name is Annie Geminder. Annie's nursing skills are superior in every way, as are most of the nurses in the 6W ICU who cared for my husband, so her skills alone do not differentiate her. Annie only took care for my husband for his first day in ICU, but every day she worked after that first day, she would come by and "check in" with us to see how he was doing, and checking on my daughter and myself. I know she had her own patients to care for, but she made the time to drop by and see us. My daughter would ask a lot of questions, and Annie would take the time to answer them. Annie helped bolster me emotionally by her relaxed and compassionate approach toward my husband and family, and looking back at our time at UCLA I realize Annie being there really meant a lot to me. UCLA and the world would be better if more nurses were like Annie. I miss UCLA's talented Neuro team headed by Dr. Vespa, but most of all I miss Annie's smile and her genuine concern.”
—Nominated and written by Janet W., family member of patient