Being admitted to the VA in Pittsburgh, I found myself 2.5 hours away from home. My wife and daughter traveled and stayed in Pittsburgh with me for the duration of my care.  During my time at the hospital, I was lucky to have Mike as my nurse. Mike’s compassion was not only for me but also for my family. He made frequent appearances to see how I was doing and if myself or my family needed anything.  Mike was sincere, and when he asked how I was or if I needed anything, he showed genuine interest.  Mike took the time to answer any questions, and if he didn’t know anything, he would find out for me.  I never worried about when someone would be in to check in me or if I had the things needed because I knew Mike would soon be back in to make sure I was okay.

I remember when I was waiting to see if surgery would be today or not. I wasn’t allowed to eat or drink. No one truly understands how thirsty someone can get until they are told they aren’t allowed to drink. Mike was there to provide support. Although he could not do anything, he listened and engaged in a conversation to try to take my mind off being so thirsty. Mike also advocated for me after hours passed, and still no word on if I was having surgery that day.  As soon as the word arrived that I wasn’t going in for surgery, Mike made sure I had cold water to drink, and a meal was brought to me.  I never had to worry while Mike was my nurse.  I say that Mike was my nurse, but he was so much more.  He provided support and spoke with me like I was a person not just a patient.  He answered not only my questions buy also those posed by my family.

I cannot speak highly enough of Mike and the care he provided for me and my family.  I was blessed to have him and know that for every patient Mike supports, he has provided a level of care that is very rare and not often seen.  Mike goes beyond what is required of him; he is a nurse, but he is also so much more.  He is caring, compassionate, kind, friendly, and everything that all nurses should be.  This is why I am nominating him for the DAISY Award and my family, and I hope that he receives this award because Mike truly deserves it.

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Mike was my husband’s nurse.  Mike was a caring nurse.  One example was when my husband had to go for different test, Mike would stop in the room to see if I needed anything and to update me on how my husband was doing.  Another example was how Mike took his time to show me how to help prep and care for my husband.  Mike always made sure my husband had fresh water.  If my husband wouldn’t eat a meal, Mike would offer to get him a bag lunch.  Mike made our stay at the hospital very comfortable.  

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Will Guidara wrote in his book Unreasonable Expectations about how services being provided are a one size fits one concept.  There is a standard way of doing things and then there is a way that makes people feel special. It’s about finding those small things that make people feel special that provides them with a happy experience.

So, why am I talking about a book and Will’s concept of hospitality?  In a simple sentence, it is because of a nurse, Mike, who took care of my father while he was admitted at the VA in Pittsburgh.  To say that Mike is much more than a nurse would be an understatement.  Mike wears so many different hats while providing care to patients.  He provides support to the family and makes sure not only the patient has what they need but also that the family visiting has what they need. Something as simple as asking if the family would like some water can mean so much.

I remember when my dad was taken for testing.  My mom and I sat in his room for what felt like forever, in reality, it was about an hour or two.  Mike came in to provide us with an update on how things were going, and he continued to come back to check in to see if we needed anything.  This didn’t happen just once, but every time Mike was my father’s nurse for the shift, he would stop on his way past to see how we were and if he could get you anything.  You might be thinking, all nurses should do this, but let me tell you they don’t. There is a vast difference between the support and care my father received when Mike was his nurse and when another nurse was over his care.

Due to my father’s diagnosis, he experienced high fevers daily.  When he was having a high fever, my father could not communicate and was unaware of where he was. If someone cannot communicate and has no idea how to move their body, how are they supposed to call for the nurse? They can’t. This is one of the reasons that my mother and I were at the hospital with him until his fever broke. Sometimes we were there until after 10:00 pm. When Mike was there, we didn’t have to worry. He frequently stopped to check on my father and would take his temperature to keep an eye on where his temperature was at. He was proactive in his approach of helping manage the fevers. Mike would also call the doctor when he noticed my father’s temperature increasing. No other nurse did this; they all waited until his fever was close to 103 before calling for additional medication, regardless of my mother and I asking.  Mike is also the only staff member who offered to get my father a bagged lunch after he missed his supper due to having a high fever. We didn’t even know this was an option, and we greatly appreciated Mike's offering to get my dad something to eat.

While looking at a hospital as a whole, most people think of care offered based solely on a patient’s perspective. Many times, vitals are taken when medication is administered, what testing they need, etc.  However, Mike expands on this by also thinking about how the family is and what the family needs.  He takes a patient-centered approach and expands it to a family system approach.  He not only explains things to the patient but also the family, so they know what is going on.

I cannot speak highly enough about the quality of care my father received while Mike was his nurse, but I can tell you there is a vast difference between Mike and other nurses.  When Mike was my father’s nurse for the shift, we didn’t worry about when he would be back and didn’t have to use the call button.  

I don’t work in the medical field, nor do I spend much time in the hospital, but I can tell you that you have an amazing nurse, Mike Rosich, working on 6 West. He should be recognized for his outstanding care and compassion for his patients and their families.