Jess's care and service were nothing short of excellent as usual. She has been my nurse multiple times before my most recent visit, and of all of the nurses that I have had in my life, she is my personal favorite. Jess is always spot-on with her nursing responsibilities, and she always makes sure I have the things I need. Oftentimes, she even chooses to go the extra mile, like going out of her way to order my food for me or always making sure that my parents and visitors are not only constantly informed about my medical status and care but also comfortable and granted access to a lot of the same amenities as me. As great as she is at her job responsibilities, however, it is her bedside hospitality and bubbly personality that really makes her stand out from all the other nurses I have had in 19 years.

This past visit has by far been the worst condition I have ever been in and the worst medical experience I have ever had. In both times that I had Jess as my nurse during this visit, before I got sent to the PICU when I was completely out of it and getting worse very fast, and when I got to come back to 5 West when I was trending upwards, she always engaged with me every time she entered my room. She wasn't just there to administer my medicine and check up on my medical condition, she took it upon herself to truly make me feel better during my situation beyond the meds and maximize my experience on the floor. She always seemed to try to squeeze a laugh or a smile out of me with our interactions, and the more time that I spent with her, she was more successful. She extended the same hospitality to my family, who have also grown to love her, and as a patient, especially as a young adult patient, these little things mean so much to me and make my experience that much better. She also encouraged me to actually take steps toward healing instead of just laying around in bed all day, like eating when I didn't feel like it, walking to the bathroom when I felt weak, and using my incentive spirometer when I could barely breathe without pain, to name a few. In the moment, these things were a nuisance and I absolutely did not want to hear or do any of them, but she's built that trust with me, and I know she means well, so sometimes I did it just to satisfy her even if I'm not thinking about my health and healing, but in reality, it's a win-win.

Jess's excellence has even inspired me to pursue a path in nursing myself, and she even gave me some advice to help me get there. These are some of the things that make nurses stand out to me and get your name remembered instead of lost among the hundreds of mostly great nurses that I have had through my 19 years of life up to this point. Nurse Jess absolutely deserves her flowers for her excellence, or in this case, a DAISY Award.