Jacob was absolutely phenomenal in all aspects. He was warm and caring from the moment he stepped in the room. He was a very attentive listener for my quite complicated history and the reason for being in the ED. The hospital system was overwhelmed with patients and on ICU divert, but Jacob did not allow the stress of the day to show in his interactions with me or anyone else he interacted with. His demeanor was warm and friendly. I have been an ED RN at several other larger facilities and I am aware of the stresses that days such as these can bring, but he didn't even let it be known. His professionalism and knowledge were shining through to the point that I thought he was many years older than he actually was.
We were anticipating a direct admit and due to hospital census were unable. Jacob went out of his way to see if we would be able to accommodate my sister staying with me while we boarded in the ED awaiting a room, so he obtained a stretcher for her to use. With a few minutes left in his shift, my sono-IV (placed by another nurse in the AC) was increasingly painful and leaking around the insertion site. He offered to stay after obtaining permission from his ANM to take care of it so that it didn't get dumped on the next person and he wanted me comfortable as well. This was an incredibly big help for me and will likely affect the rest of my stay here.
Jacob's smile was constant, a benefit for his team and his patients. His willingness to help with anything possible was a benefit for me as well as his other patients. He made sure that all of his patients were moved to hospital beds and needs were met before leaving for the evening even though he stayed a little after shift. It was evident that his care for his patient and coworkers far superseded his own, even at the end of what was obviously a long and arduous shift. From a patient and a colleague standpoint nurses like these are very hard to find.
Please recognize Jacob in one way or another as he deserves it. A 'young' nurse with all of his attributes is already an asset to your team and facility. I can only imagine the continued ability he has to be a positive impact on your team and all patients, families, and visitors he encounters.