Even in my condition following brain surgery, I easily recognized that Haley embodies the true spirit of what it means to be a caring and compassionate individual while also performing her professional duties as a nurse at an equally high level. During my stay and throughout her shift, I always got the sense that she cared about me as an individual; listening to my questions and concerns no matter how many times I repeated them, taking an extra minute to relate to me and my family members as individuals, and making sure I had the best care under her watch.
While I was in the ICU, Haley always anticipated my needs and concerns. Without fail she completed her checks on me according to the time indicated on the whiteboard, always brought me a fresh cup of ice water and a fresh ice pack without me having to ask and always remembered to close the door on her way out to ensure I had the privacy and quiet I needed to rest at this critical time in the initial stages of my recovery.
Haley was also very proactive in her work to meet my needs, She relentlessly spent hours checking with the hospital pharmacy to find, order and finally obtain some cough medicine that I desperately needed to subdue a cough and ease the compounding pain in my head the cough was causing. She also spent hours checking with my surgeon and the MRI department to find out when my post op scan was to be scheduled and continuously updated me so I knew when I could rest or when I would be leaving my room to have the MRI done. I truly appreciated her updates on both of these matters since as a patient, so much was new and unfamiliar. Eliminating as many unknowns as possible helped bring me comfort and allowed me to relax and rest.
Based on the care and compassion Haley exhibited, I suspect this type of performance is in her nature and she has found her true calling.