Eliza is a novice nurse of 9 months but she performs like a veteran RN. She is already precepting new graduates, takes pride in her nursing practice, and the profession of nursing. She exhibits respect for her colleagues, patients, and the organization.

A patient who was 96 years old and very hard of hearing was a patient on R4 for a long time. The patient and granddaughter communicated in another language and an interpreter was required at all times. The patient was non-weight bearing in a low bed but tried to get out of bed consistently. The family wanted surgery but unfortunately, this patient was not a surgical candidate. Whenever the patient tried to get out of bed the bed alarm will go off which frustrated this patient and caused her to become extremely upset with staff. We would immediately call the interpreter but many times the interpreter could not understand the patient due to the patient’s frustration. Eliza’s compassionate, warm personality took over which made an enormous impact not only on the patient but the family as well.

As a leader on the unit, I would see this patient and family daily to review the plan of care and to answer any questions they may have. They are from another country and the healthcare systems are enormously different, making care challenging. The primary person caring for this individual would always comment on Eliza’s kindness, listening skills, and the time she spent with her grandmother. When Eliza had this patient, the telephone calls to her family decreased significantly. Eliza would always get this patient to smile and laugh. She would advocate to providers the needs her patient required. Pain medication is always challenging for an older patient due to clearance and confusion. Eliza talked with palliative care, ethics, physical and occupational therapy, and myself almost daily because she felt we were missing something and wanted to make the difference that her patient deserved.

Eliza understood the patient’s outcome but wanted to make sure the family was well-educated and understood the process. Eliza knew the patient was dying and was in pain constantly but wanted the patient to have control and make sure the family understood everything going on. Eliza encouraged the family to visit the Gosnell House to talk with staff, but because of religious beliefs, Eliza had to reprocess her thinking on how to explain that the end was coming and that the best care for the patient would be the Gosnell House. A peaceful respectful death was Eliza’s goal. The family shared that their grandmother only would let Eliza bathe her, Eliza made sure she had food to eat and that she actually ate it, and she would sit with their grandmother and just hold her hand.

After getting to know the family I realized that they could not read or write English well, so we did this nomination together. This nomination cannot express enough how Eliza has changed this patient’s quality of life. I witnessed Eliza going above and beyond not only for the patient but for the granddaughter as well. “I wish all patients could have Eliza, she made all the difference for my grandmother”.