During my time as the manager of Pre-op/PACU, I have spoken to several patients and/or family members about the care that they receive during their time in Pre-op and Recovery.  Some of those conversations are not so great, some are great, and others are outstanding.  This particular conversation was an outstanding one.  One of those that make you feel so proud of the nursing profession as a whole and incredibly proud to hear that one of those ‘exceptional’ nurses that truly stand out is in fact on your team.  One that not only enjoys helping his patients in their time of need but is truly in tune with the needs of not only each patient, but of their family members as well.  

This phone call came from the sister of one of our patients who came in for surgery.  She called to tell me how impressed she was with the care that one of our nurses, Jeremy, provided to her sister.  As I was on the phone with her, it became apparent that this was more than just great care, but rather care that left a true impact on the lives of both our patient and the patient’s sister.  She shared with me that she is the primary caregiver for her sister K, who has suffered from a Traumatic Brain Injury that left her blind and cognitively impaired.  She went on to tell me that Jeremy went above and beyond to calm the nerves of her sister and provide an environment that was safe and calm for her. She shared that Jeremy took the time to talk with K, which is exactly what she needed.  She was so grateful that he was so calm, kind, and compassionate and shared that while all of the staff were great, Jeremy really stood out.  She told me that she would love to have Jeremy as a nurse every single time for her sister and for anyone that she knows who needs a nurse because he is simply “precious.”  Although K’s surgery was delayed due to an emergent case, her sister was so impressed with Jeremy’s communication and very pleased that he got a swab to wet K’s mouth to help her relax a bit while waiting for the procedure since she could not have anything to drink.  She told me that she hopes that Jeremy stays on our team forever because of how special he is.  

As we were talking, I shared with her that we like to celebrate nurses like Jeremy through our DAISY Award program, and she eagerly asked that I complete a nomination for Jeremy and that she really hopes that he is honored and that if he is, she would bring her sister to the celebration to present him with the award! She shared that he is truly deserving of a DAISY Award because he is simply wonderful as a nurse and as a human being.  I eagerly echo her words and am so beyond proud to have Jeremy on our team!