Christina Ruelas
March 2024
Christina
Ruelas
,
BSN, RN
4CW ICU
UCLA Health
Santa Monica
,
CA
United States

 

 

 

Words can not describe how blessed my family and I were to have had a woman like Christina as my grandma's nurse.
My grandma means everything to me; I try my best to stay by her side anytime she is admitted to the hospital. Words can not describe how blessed my family and I were to have had a woman like Christina as my grandma's nurse. She was so compassionate, paid great attention to detail, and no question was a dumb question and would let me ask so many. My grandfather and my uncle aren’t the nicest people, but she dealt with them with such poise and confidence, and it was so refreshing to see her hold firm to her medical knowledge (my family likes to think they know better than the doctors and the nurses) while also understanding that my family is just scared and acting out on that feeling. I told Christina about my wanting to pursue nursing as a career. I told her about what my life was like growing up living with a blind father with heart failure, diabetes, and renal failure, struggling to keep good grades because of my dad always being in the hospital, and how I have met a handful of amazing men and women who have given my father above and beyond care. She is very much one of those nurses that I will forever hold near and dear to my heart for the amount of care she put into my grandmother.

Christina took her time explaining anything and everything to me; she made sure to always be in my grandma's room 10 seconds after we called for her; she was such a ray of sunshine that I needed during an extremely traumatic time. She reminded me that the path to nursing isn’t an easy one, and she shared some of her one personal struggles in life and during nursing school. She told me I was a bright woman and that she believes I have exactly what it takes to make it in this profession. She didn’t feel like my grandmas nurse at one point, she felt like family. I can tell she truly cares about her patients and puts her heart into her job. I wish my grandma could’ve kept this amazing nurse, she will always be a nurse i will look back on as inspiration as to the type of nurse I would like to be one day.

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With deep gratitude and admiration, I nominate Christina for The DAISY Award. Her exceptional care, unwavering compassion, and remarkable professionalism during an incredibly challenging time in my life have left an indelible mark on my heart. Christina was by my side during an agonizing period when my beloved wife was in the ICU. Her dedication and tireless efforts were nothing short of extraordinary. Despite the gravity of the situation, Christina’s unwavering support and genuine empathy provided immense comfort to me as I was alone. Her compassionate nature was evident in every action she took. She consistently went above and beyond her duties, offering medical expertise and heartfelt emotional support. She took the time to explain the situation's complexities with clarity and empathy, easing my fears during the most trying moments. I vividly recall a moment during my wife's final hours when her presence was a source of solace and reassurance. Her calm demeanor and genuine care created a supportive environment amid the chaos of the ICU. Her ability to navigate the delicate balance between professionalism and genuine empathy is a testament to her exceptional character. Thank you for being there for me in one of my darkest days.