Haley Anslem
February 2026
Haley
Anslem
,
BSN, RN, CCRN
Cardiac ICU
Ochsner Medical Center - Main Campus New Orleans
New Orleans
,
LA
United States
What speaks most to Haley's character is what she did next.
The CICU is a unique place. Many of our patients are here for months awaiting advanced heart failure therapies such as transplant or LVAD. Over time, they are no longer just patients; they become family. We had a patient who was with us for nearly 200 days while fighting to become a candidate for advanced heart failure options. He endured complication after complication, at times becoming too sick to qualify for the very therapies that could save his life.
After an incredibly long and difficult journey, he was finally approved for an LVAD. What we all believed was the light at the end of the tunnel tragically became his final chapter, as he developed complications after surgery and ultimately passed away. Haley cared for him many times throughout his stay. She didn't just care for him clinically; she cared for him personally. She loved him dearly, and he loved her right back. Their relationship was filled with laughter, inside jokes, encouragement, and trust.
During his 200 days with us, she helped make the hospital feel less like a hospital and more like home. When he finally became an LVAD candidate, Haley shared in his joy and hope. When he passed, she shared in the heartbreak, not just as a nurse, but as someone who truly knew him. What speaks most to Haley's character is what she did next.
After learning of his death, she organized a donation pool among the staff to send flowers to his funeral. Even after his passing, she continued to think of him and his family. She ensured that his loved ones felt the impact he had on our unit and the love we had for him. Haley exemplifies what it means to be a nurse. She forms genuine connections with her patients, stands beside them through the hardest battles, celebrates their victories, and grieves their losses. Her compassion does not end when a shift ends. She reminds us that extraordinary nursing care is not just about managing drips, devices, and critical illness. It is about humanity, presence, and love. Haley is a true DAISY Nurse for the exceptional compassion, dedication, and heart she brings to CICU every single day.
After an incredibly long and difficult journey, he was finally approved for an LVAD. What we all believed was the light at the end of the tunnel tragically became his final chapter, as he developed complications after surgery and ultimately passed away. Haley cared for him many times throughout his stay. She didn't just care for him clinically; she cared for him personally. She loved him dearly, and he loved her right back. Their relationship was filled with laughter, inside jokes, encouragement, and trust.
During his 200 days with us, she helped make the hospital feel less like a hospital and more like home. When he finally became an LVAD candidate, Haley shared in his joy and hope. When he passed, she shared in the heartbreak, not just as a nurse, but as someone who truly knew him. What speaks most to Haley's character is what she did next.
After learning of his death, she organized a donation pool among the staff to send flowers to his funeral. Even after his passing, she continued to think of him and his family. She ensured that his loved ones felt the impact he had on our unit and the love we had for him. Haley exemplifies what it means to be a nurse. She forms genuine connections with her patients, stands beside them through the hardest battles, celebrates their victories, and grieves their losses. Her compassion does not end when a shift ends. She reminds us that extraordinary nursing care is not just about managing drips, devices, and critical illness. It is about humanity, presence, and love. Haley is a true DAISY Nurse for the exceptional compassion, dedication, and heart she brings to CICU every single day.