My husband R and I arrived at HCA Florida Lake Monroe Hospital for what was to be, for him, a planned outpatient cardiac catheterization with a possible angioplasty or maybe even a stent. By 10:00 pm R was resting in the Heart ICU having just had a totally unexpected double coronary bypass operation. Needless to say, Tuesday was a stressful blur for my husband and our family.

I returned to visit R the next morning arriving at about 8:30 and was greeted by a lovely ICU nurse who identified herself as Melissa. She already had R sitting up in a chair and proceeded to update us on his progress through the night and what we were to expect during our time in this specialized unit. Melissa was extremely thorough and very professional in sharing the information but right from that minute, I could already sense what a caring nurse she was.

Throughout the 4 days of R's hospital recuperation time, Melissa was his day shift caregiver. I cannot adequately describe the amazing job she did. This girl was efficient, knowledgeable, and totally dedicated to her patient.

At the same time, she was also incredibly kind, attentive, and compassionate. She was a calming force for both of us that drew from her experience in dealing with patients who have gone through this type of procedure. We found her to be exceptionally encouraging; telling R what great progress he was making as he began his physical therapy by walking the common area outside his room. Commenting on how well he was doing with breathing exercises; always reassuring him and giving kind words to ease his concerns. Melissa was gentle when addressing his medical needs but with a sweet, firm nature still made sure he was doing what was needed to heal. Allowing R quiet time to rest but still able to monitor him inconspicuously showed she understood the needs of the total patient.

We all know that nurses, especially in this Heart ICU unit, must have an exceptional level of knowledge and expertise to properly care for their patients. Of course, Melissa easily demonstrates these skills. What makes her so valuable in this profession, and truly touched our hearts, are the things that did not come from a textbook. This girl is a perfect, shining example of how a dedicated nurse should interact with her patient. She certainly is a tremendous asset to HCA Florida Lake Monroe Hospital.

For these reasons (and more that I did not even list) our family nominates Melissa Paul of the Heart ICU unit for the DAISY Award. We firmly believe that excellence should be recognized, acknowledged, and rewarded. For the outstanding care she was able to give my husband during his recent hospital stay we will truly never forget her. She is a special Angel in our eyes.