Anel "Nellie" is an RN in our ICU. She consistently goes above and beyond when caring for her patients. She is quick to communicate with our Spanish-speaking patients.

Recently, we had a long-term ICU patient, a young man. This patient was Spanish speaking, and Nellie was frequently assigned to care for him. She treated him with the utmost compassion and took additional steps out of her busy day to show him kindness and compassion. Although he had a tracheostomy, she took the steps to wheel him outside so he could feel the sunshine on his face and smell the fresh air. She bought a life-sized dinosaur balloon (with her own money) in the gift shop for the sheer pleasure of making him smile. She spent countless hours teaching this young man how to care for his trach and PEG tube and comforted him when he felt lonely or scared. She did not leave his side whenever he had to have a bedside procedure done.

This patient case is not the only time I have been impressed with Nellie. She has a contagious sense of enthusiasm which is nothing short of refreshing. She has a strong desire to learn new things and she exudes the sense of caring most people associate with nurses. She is a joy and a pleasure to work alongside.