I am a nurse in the MICU. I am new, only transferring to this department in May. From the beginning, Nailah has been so kind and welcoming. She is always so helpful, checking in on all the other nurses on the unit to see if they need anything and lending a hand when they do. 

In July, my uncle was admitted to the MICU for heart failure. His prognosis was poor and ultimately the decision to transition him to hospice care was made. I happened to be working the night that decision was made, and I was able to see firsthand that he was not doing well. He was constantly requiring IV pushes of pain medication and you could tell that he was uncomfortable. At the time, Nailah was not aware that this was my family member. I watched her escalate her concerns regarding his comfort to the providers, and when they didn’t respond appropriately, she escalated the issue to their senior. She did not stop advocating for my uncle until he was finally put on a fentanyl drip to help keep him comfortable and pain-free. 

Nailah was so gentle with him, making sure he was positioned in a way that made him breathe easier. She was so kind and empathetic to my family. She explained everything that was happening and everything that she was going to be doing. She kept them informed and provided proper education. My uncle ended up passing away that night. That was when Nailah found out that her patient was my family member. She checked in on me to make sure I was okay. Allowing me to express my grief while she provided comfort. She offered to watch my patients so I could take a minute to collect my emotions and see my family during that difficult time.

Nailah is an amazing nurse; that is why I am nominating her for this award. She deserves it.