Paul Hua cared for my 90-year old mother during the last days/hours of her life. He exemplifies all of the core values, and we feel SO fortunate to have had Paul as one of her caregivers. 

Compassion: Never have I seen anyone show so much kindness and caring, not only to the patient but also to the family members. Paul spent a great deal of time trying to comfort me and my family as we watched my mom's condition deteriorate. He took the time to explain everything to us and did not leave until he was sure we understood. He was so kind to my mom and if he had to do something in the course of her treatment that would bring her discomfort (moving her to change the bed or keep her from getting bed sores etc.) he would apologize to her. He went above and beyond to ensure that her family members would have access to her at will because she was terminal. While I watched Paul, I kept thinking that he was treating my mom as he would his own family member. He is obviously a very skilled nurse but as he delivered care it did not feel like he was clinical in his approach, instead he always kept the "human factor" at the forefront.

Accountability: Paul told us what he was going to do, and he followed through when and as promised. He was meticulous in the delivery of his duties and made sure that at shift turnover the oncoming nurse was aware of any care decisions that had been made during the day. He was very clear in his instructions, so the level of care would not wane.

Integrity: Paul quickly earned our trust, especially the trust of my mom. He was upfront and honest with us throughout the entire process, which was a relief after multiple instances of receiving conflicting information from doctors, and other nurses over the course of the 7-day period.

Respect: Paul always maintained a pleasant and friendly demeanor. He explained everything to my mom before he did it, so her expectations were always managed. He clearly valued her opinions and ours, and he listened intently when any of us spoke. We never felt like he was rushing to leave as so many other caregivers have based on my experience. The nursing staff overall was great, but Paul stood head and shoulders above the rest, in our opinion. I speak for my entire family. When Paul departed at the end of his shift, it was clear that my mom's hours were numbered. He made sure that we were prepared for everything that would happen when she finally expired, which was a great comfort to all of us. She was seemingly unconscious with the Morphine and Adavan, but Paul made it a point to say goodbye and thank her for the pleasure of being able to care for her. Wow, wow, wow!

Teamwork: I saw Paul jump in several times to assist his co-workers without batting an eye. Every time we would mention his name to a co-worker they had the same reaction, they would smile and say what a great person and nurse he is. That speaks to his consistent professionalism and giving spirit. 

My mom was given a choice to stay in the hospital or move to a Hospice facility where she could be wheeled outside for fresh air and to listen to the birds. It sounded lovely, yet she chose to remain in the hospital. It is my true belief that she wanted to stay because of Paul. She trusted him and wanted to remain under his care as much as possible. She lit up every time he entered the room and spoke to him even when struggling to breathe. 

No words can express how grateful we are, and we hope that Paul will be recognized for all of his awesomeness!