I’ve had the pleasure of working with Brandon during my time as a clinical instructor on EP 7-5. His leadership, clinical excellence, compassion, and holistic care in every way, every shift. Brandon is unfailingly kind and patient in his interactions with others and a true gift to the patients and staff of Yale New Haven Hospital.

Role Model for Compassionate Care: EP 7-5 has been caring for several long-term patients on the unit with dual behavioral & medical diagnoses. Brandon has a special connection with one patient with a behavioral health diagnosis and renal failure undergoing hemodialysis who is currently unable to leave the hospital and has no long-term placement plan. This patient can exhibit some challenging behaviors related to his need for independence and control. Brandon sees these challenges as opportunities to intervene with nursing interventions. The patient has voiced struggles with the long hospitalization and a desire for some sense of normalcy. Brandon has repeatedly advocated for the patient with interventions to create a more home-like environment. This included a furniture re-arrangement in the room to push the bed against the wall to create room for the patient’s chair and bedside table. These interventions helped with the patient’s sleep and calm.

Special Connection: In the Fall of 2023, I watched Brandon care for one of our frequently admitted patients on peritoneal dialysis as an outpatient. The patient had a roller coaster ride of an admission for peritonitis and blood pressure control issues, including a transfer to the intensive care unit for a period of time. Brandon always took the time to ask about the patient as a person first: family, coping, and sense of self before launching into explanations about treatments or plans of care. The patient leaned on their “work family,” who frequently called and FaceTimed to provide humor and support. Brandon prioritized those interactions as a therapy and coping strategy for the patient and clustered care around those needs.

Significant Difference: Brandon is a clinical expert in the patient population on EP 7-5, particularly with peritoneal dialysis and cycler devices. Patients care for themselves at home, and often complain about the lack of nursing expertise regarding their specific therapy mode while in the hospital. Knowledge of how to care for these patients is a niche knowledge base. I’ve watched Brandon over and over again set up, administer, and teach about peritoneal dialysis to other nurses and support patients. Brandon has a gift for engaging the patients’ insight into their own conditions and specific therapies and engaging them in their own suggestions about the best interventions for care. I’ve rarely encountered a nurse with such expertise in developing patient independence and voice in their plan of care.

Last evening we transferred a patient to the intensive care unit who Brandon cared for frequently. Brandon had been in touch with the unit, and made plans to visit the patient overnight to make a connection between the staff who cared for them throughout the admission and establish a bridge of caring and trust during their ICU stay. “I love that patient” was the comment made by Brandon.

Brandon’s MHB message last evening said “please feel free to reach out with any questions about the cycler or peritoneal dialysis”, inviting anyone across the hospital to call with a question. In our post conference, one of my students talked about how special Brandon is a nurse role model. She asked if Brandon had time for a question, and his response was, “Always.” Wow.