Our patient was admitted with a COVID diagnosis and remains in the hospital today, 21 days after, and will be here much longer. On Tuesday, I received a text from RN Melanie Bernard saying "how is my guy in room x?"- Melanie had worked with this patient for the past two days and had him making significant progress including getting up in the chair (this was a major milestone for him). Melanie want to check on him and ensure he sat in the chair that day even though she was off. I went into the room and introduced myself to the patient, we exchanged pleasantries and I told him Melanie had sent me in to make sure he had gotten up in the chair that day. He grew very serious and said, "She saved my life. I had given up, I was convinced I was going to die and not make it out of here. Melanie told me that no one dies on her shift and then proceeded to tell me exactly what I was going to do that day to help myself, including getting up to the chair and all of our goals were met, more importantly, my will to live was restored." His wife shared with me that Melanie is magic. She was so grateful that Melanie was able to "bring him around." She said Melanie teased him, laughed with him, and gave him plenty of tough love and it made such a difference. His wife shared that her husband had prayed the previous night asking for help with his anxiety. She said my husband called me after meeting Melanie and said "I think God sent her to us."

These types of stories are not new when it comes to Melanie. As a nurse on 4E, she has the biggest laugh, a kind heart, a passion to help anyone and everyone whether it is a peer, patient, or family member. She is the first to volunteer to be a preceptor, loves education, and receives the most Notes of Praise from anyone on the unit including those she has precepted, other units, patients, and families. Melanie is a true DAISY Nurse.