I was scheduled for an upper GI and Abbey Kruse was my nurse. The moment I walked in, Abbey greeted me with a welcoming smile and assurances this procedure would go smoothly.

Abbey had the innate ability to sense my anxiety and was quick to dissolve those feelings. She went out of her way to prepare the appropriate medical supplies to access my port line. I consider myself fortunate she was trained in accessing and locking ports, as not many nurses outside of oncology have to learn this skill. Abbey showed such confidence in her abilities that I was never nervous she'd cause harm to me or the port line. With a steady hand, Abbey got the port accessed and off to the procedure I went.

When I woke up from the sedation, Abbey's angelic face, voice and kind words were the first things I remember. What could have been a very anxious time for me was easily turned into a pleasant experience with Abbey. She showed her skills and talents as a nurse, was highly professional and adhered to the safety standards to protect both herself and me from infection. She was also affable and personable with me and her co-workers as evidenced by their light-hearted bantering she saw fit with which to include me. I never once felt like a patient; I felt like an integral part of her team. I can honestly say I have never had a more wonderful nurse than Abbey.