Brendon is an incredible nurse. He sees patients as people first, taking the time to talk to them and to really get to know them. When we had a long-term patient with dementia who often refused her medications, Brendon would spend as much time as she needed to carefully show and explain each of her morning medications. When he had extra time, he would sit in her room to chat with her about music and books to re-orient her, reducing the number of escalations she experienced.

His friendly, kind demeanor is easily apparent to patients, and they often mention his ability to make them feel comfortable even in difficult situations. An older patient who spoke limited English lit up passing Brendon in the hallway, pointing to him and calling him “kind man.” It was one of the only times that she smiled during her complicated hospitalization. Another patient mentioned that she was nervous about having a male nurse, especially with personal care, but “Brendon put me at ease.”

As a coworker, Brendon is a positive, supportive presence. Even on busy days, he offers help and his calm, competent care is an asset to the unit. He is quick to respond to bed alarms and codes and manages difficult assignments with a smile. He has cared for some of our sickest patients and provided excellent, safe care each and every shift.