I write this evaluation as a member of a family that has witnessed the stays of several beloved family members, who, at various times, have had stays in hospitals, rehab centers, and extended care facilities.  In the past 15-20 years I have witnessed the care my beloved sister and mom have received in those facilities. I have honestly seen many good nurses and their assistants, but all the previous times I felt those people were doing their job as was expected of their profession. 

I can say that the care providers who attended my sister and my late mom all seemed professional and knowledgeable, I could tell most were dedicated to the return to health of their patient, that it wasn’t just a job. However, as I write this nomination, I witnessed the care of one particular nurse attending to my sister. My sister J was born with cerebral palsy and hydrocephalus and because of seizures is now blind. I am Judy’s legal guardian and POA. It’s not that the other current nurses in J’s unit are not good or subpar; it’s just that this one particular nurse seems to stand out and help more than usual. 

I am grateful that Nurse Molly has by far been the one nurse on duty most of the time during my sister’s stay, as she seems to be especially empathetic to my sister’s situation. As I sit and watch the various caregivers perform their jobs while caring for my sister, Molly always tries to engage my sister even though my sister is relatively non-responsive. Several things have occurred with my sister's current situation, and Molly has taken it upon herself to contact the hospitalists continually to update me on what is occurring. When answers are coming slowly, she is continually persistent in getting answers in order to keep me updated. When she says she will follow up and get back to me, she does. I have spent hours each day during my sister’s current stay, and while the others are good, Molly seems to shine. 

She’s always engaged and in motion. She has asked me numerous times about what my sister’s “baseline” responses were to her bodily functions prior to being hospitalized, in order to judge any progress. While my sister has slowly responded to treatment, Molly has been encouraging and spirit-lifting, giving me hope for a return to health for my sister. She listens even when she is at her busiest. To her she is not working a “production line”, no got to move, who is next?

For a nurse so new to the profession, she seems beyond her youth to have the knowledge, compassion, joy, and love for her profession and her patients. So please accept my nomination of Molly, stationed in the 6100 unit of the hospital.