During my husband‘s recent stay at Providence Hospital, he spent two days and nights in the Intensive Care Unit. As a worried wife, with my husband unexpectedly on a ventilator, I appreciated David’s calm, quiet manner, and the kindness he exhibited, not only to my husband, but to me.

I watched his attention to detail in everything he did for my husband. He also provided items for my comfort during the night, such as pillows, blankets and sheets, setting up the couch into a bed. He brought an ice cup for my Diet Coke, bottled water, as well as a couple of Tylenol for a headache. He even brought me coffee with sugar and creamer to provide some relief, telling me that coffee is better for me. He gently recommended that I go home the next night to get some better rest, which I did.

As we visited quietly during his shift, I asked him why he had chosen nursing as a profession. He replied that he had started to pursue a career in medical science, I assumed as a doctor, but discovered that he was drawn more to the comfort care of nursing.

One morning, after my husband was able to come off the ventilator, I met David in the parking lot and stopped to share the good news, as if to a friend. He seemed glad to stop and hear our good news, not minding the interruption to his day.

David is an exemplary example of compassionate caring for others whom he’s never met. It is evident to me that he provides the same level of gentle service whether the patient is aware of it or not. He is a true good Samaritan at heart, bringing comfort to others in the dark hours of the night shift.