My mother had the great fortune to have this RN as her nurse for several days during her recent 7-day hospitalization at HFWB. She is 89 years old and was dealing with multiple issues including dehydration, electrolyte imbalance, orthostatic hypotension, radiation therapy to the throat which rendered her unable to speak, and she was in a positive pressure isolation room because of suffering from an active case of shingles due to being immunocompromised. I can't begin to express how caring, compassionate, and patient her nurse was with my mother during the multiple 12-hour shifts that he cared for her. He was organized in delivering care to her and spent time with her to meet her many needs and deliver care.

There are many stories that I could relate about his care of her, but one that was particularly meaningful to her and to me was assisting her to get a shower and wash her hair after several days of hospitalization. He even put her feet in a basin and gently washed and dried her feet. Providing this physical care for her made her feel so much better both physically and emotionally. During my 50 years in nursing practice at the bedside, in administration, and as a university educator, I have had the opportunity to see many nurses and students provide care to patients. It is my sincere desire that every nurse would demonstrate the skills, compassion, and care for their patients that this nurse provided to my mother. He is a "second career nurse," and as such is relatively new to the profession, but truly he has found his calling and the profession is better for him having become part of it!