Special recognition is due to Julie who cared for my mom five days in a row during her stay on the Observation Unit. Julie provided my mom with excellent nursing care. She answered my many questions, kept us up to date on the plans for her care, and advocated for her to have the best outcome possible. She quickly cultivated a positive relationship with my mom and spent time in her room chatting – I know the personal interactions lifted her spirits. Never did Julie grumble over my mother’s many requests and always made time to meet her needs, even though we knew she had plenty of other patients to care for. She learned my mom’s preferences and tried to meet them to the best of her ability – that attention to detail made my mother feel seen and valued as a patient. Julie was able to prioritize her work in a way that she never gave us the perception that we were a burden or that she was too busy.

It was clear that Julie served as a trusted leader on the floor, often carrying the charge phone and being a point of contact for various questions. It was effortlessly brought to my attention what a help Julie is to the unit and is always willing to help in whatever way she can. I was filled with peace leaving mom in Julie’s care which was incredibly helpful to me as my world had been shifted with her admission. Her nursing care was one less thing that need to be fraught over.

One evening we were chatting, and I commented on her long stretches of work and how difficult that must be for her. Julie mentioned that after the passing of her spouse it was easier to work a lot than be at home. My heart simultaneously filled with grief and awe for her - for giving so much of herself to care for those in my community while she herself held her own pain. I thanked her for staying at the bedside and it was genuine.

I couldn’t fully express it at the time, but thank you for sacrificing yourself emotionally and physically to practice nursing at the bedside – you are a wonderful example of the selflessness required to carry the role of “nurse”. Thank you for leading the newest generation of staff in your own way, modeling longevity and resilience. I am so thankful that you’ve chosen to practice nursing at UPMC Western Maryland. I am grateful that some of our community can be taken care of by your skilled hands and heart, especially my mom. Thank you!