I came all the way from Texas to visit my brother, who is battling cancer. The first day here, I was greeted by Shawnee, who was at the door of my brother’s room. She introduced herself and stated she was here to visit my brother and make sure he was recovering well. I introduced myself, thanked her, and told her he was resting. She then mentioned that she was not assigned to him at all but had helped with his procedure the day before. She spoke words of encouragement, hugged me, and said she would return later to visit. That night, she returned, checked on him, laughed with him, and gave us so much hope.

The following day, still not assigned to my brother’s care team, Shawnee kept up with her visits, even going beyond and assisting with his needs during her visits.

Shawnee is the epitome of what a great nurse should be. Her qualities are those of a great leader, one who leads by example. She clearly does this work because she truly loves nursing and is deeply interested in the well-being of her patients. Her care reflects a passion for nursing that goes far beyond duty. Her approach was always genuine, compassionate, and with the utmost dedication, which shows that her motivation comes from the heart and not from financial reward. Shawnee’s love for nursing cannot be taught or bought; it is obviously genuine and natural. It is nurses like her who make all the difference, not only in the care for patients but also in reassuring families that their loved ones are in good hands and getting the best care. Shawnee is indeed an extraordinary nurse, and it is my absolute pleasure to put the spotlight on her.