We had a young female breast cancer patient for about two weeks on our oncology unit. She was admitted for brain metastases, given palliative chemotherapy, and continued to decline. The patient was placed on comfort care. During this time, the patient was taken care of by several nurses, however, Manmeet was able to comfort the patient and keep her calm, speaking to her in her native language. Manmeet was able to relay information to the providers and other nurses so that the patient’s needs were met, especially about pain. The patient’s father tried to get more therapy for his daughter, but there were no other treatment options. Manmeet was able to assure him that the provider team did everything possible. This was a great help to the provider team, as they struggled at times to communicate with the patient’s father. Manmeet served as a bridge between the patient, family, and providers, even when the patient was not part of her assignment for that day. The provider team told me that Manmeet’s contribution to the care of this patient made all the difference. The patient died on a weekend that Manmeet was working. She made sure the patient was comfortable during her shift. The provider noted that the patient died comfortably with a smile on her face.

We take care of many patients who are at end-of-life. Manmeet provided compassionate care that embodied our core values of caring for our patients and their loved ones. The patient and family trusted Manmeet and her care brought great comfort at a difficult time. As a coworker, and on behalf of one of the providers, it is an honor to nominate Manmeet Bhinder for the DAISY Award.