Dolly was the nurse my husband most needed on the 10th day of his hospitalization and the second day after emergency surgery. He was miserable, in pain from the surgery and from his chronic back condition, and he could not move easily because of all the medical devices being used in his care.

Dolly quickly assessed the situation and developed a care plan with my husband. Her professionalism and confident approach motivated him to do more than he thought possible, and she reassured my daughter and me that he was in very good hands. Dolly knew all the little and big things that make such a difference for a fresh post-op patient who has been hospitalized for so long. She ensured my husband was bathed, provided excellent skin care—especially to his arm where an IV had infiltrated—managed his pain with both medication and expert repositioning, and timed his pain medication to support mobility. She protected his rest by organizing necessary activities, engaged the physician to write an order to remove the Foley catheter, and expertly managed the trial, all while ensuring that his safety remained the top priority. I know these may seem like routine tasks, but Dolly’s comprehensive, patient-focused approach stood out as truly extraordinary.

Later, on day 16, when my husband’s line infiltrated, Dolly was the nurse who skillfully used ultrasound to establish a new line. This was also the day that my husband required a second surgery because his wound dehisced. She knew how upset I was, and on her way home, joined me in the blue waiting room to comfort me. Next year marks my 50th year as a Registered Nurse. It was a joy to witness Dolly demonstrate the very best qualities of our profession, providing my husband and me with an oasis of caring and calm during his long hospital stay.