January 2021
April
Lovorn
,
BSN, RN
Surgical Trauma Intensive Care Unit
Medical University of South Carolina

 

 

 

She used surgical clippers and gave my husband a shave, washed his hair, and bathed him with kindness all while preserving his dignity. I knew my husband was in goods when April was his nurse.
Words cannot express the gratitude my family has for the extraordinary care delivered to my husband by April. My first impression of April was WOW. My husband is a retired physician, my daughter is a registered nurse, and my other daughter is an occupational therapist. As you can imagine, we know very well how important it is to have a kind, compassionate, competent nurse, and let me tell you, April was exactly that. During COVID my husband wasn't shaving on a regular basis. April first asked him if she could assist him with a shave. He agreed. She used surgical clippers and gave my husband a shave, washed his hair, and bathed him with kindness all while preserving his dignity. Later, when I spoke with my daughter, the nurse, I explained what April did. My daughter said, "that's a good nurse, she was making work for herself. That's not something she is required to do. She went above and beyond." Each day April was my husband's nurse, I observed her advocate for my husband. Often she would explain to the entire team my husband's condition. If he needed something, she spoke up with confidence and skill. She shared my husband's plan of care and always explained the next steps to me. I knew my husband was in goods when April was his nurse. When she had to care for another patient, she would let me know when she would return. She always kept her word. Nurses like April are extraordinary. She is a true super-human hero.