Brandee is extremely smart and always gives excellent care. She has experienced great loss in her life and empathizes with the patients she cares for. I've seen her share her story of loss with patients, which lets them know she "gets it," is there for them, and gives them hope they can survive in the face of terrible tragedy. This has to take a toll on her when she is willing to go all the way there emotionally with patients and families in the Emergency Department. I've seen Brandee respond to assist another nurse during a code or a trauma and provide this comfort to families of patients she is not even assigned to. It is not something most people are willing or able to do. 

The other day, we had a patient brought by life flight from Sublette County after becoming severely ill while hiking in the mountains. This gentleman was a teacher from out of state who was traveling alone to do some "extreme" hiking before the school year began. His wallet got left behind in his car on the mountain from where he was rescued, so he had no means of renting a car. No buses or shuttles of any kind travel through this remote area so the closest we could get him was 60 miles away from his vehicle. Then there was a no guarantee he could find transportation the rest of the way.

We posted this transportation need on Facebook, and Brandee called me within 20 minutes, offering to drive him the three hours to his car. It was her day off, and the trip ended up taking a total of nine hours because of a storm and mudslide on the return trip. She eventually detoured through Jackson, WY, arriving home well after dark. Brandee represented EIRMC well that day and eased the way for one of our patients in an extraordinary way.