Jon Wegener
October 2025
Jon
Wegener
,
RN
Intensive Care Unit
Indiana University Health Ball Memorial Hospital
Muncie
,
IN
United States
His patience, commitment, and advocacy for my grandma’s well-being were truly remarkable.
I am honored to nominate John, an outstanding nurse in the Intensive Care Unit at IU Health Ball Memorial Hospital, for his exceptional care and compassion. John embodies all the values that IU Health stands for: compassion, excellence, and integrity.
His impact on my family and me during my grandmother’s 15-day stay in the ICU was nothing short of extraordinary. My grandma was admitted to the ICU following emergency surgery to create a permanent colostomy bag. During the procedure, she aspirated and developed aspiration pneumonia, followed by a diagnosis of sepsis and yeast in her blood. John was the first nurse we encountered, and from that moment, we knew my grandma was in excellent hands.
Throughout her stay, John was an unwavering presence at my grandma’s bedside, providing not only skilled medical care but also emotional support for our family. As my grandma was on a ventilator and heavily sedated, John performed range of motion exercises while speaking to her with kindness and compassion. He made sure to explain each medication he administered and its purpose to not only us as a family but also to my grandma, even though she was unable to respond. This thoughtful communication helped us feel informed and involved and showed an incredible level of respect for my grandma as a person.
John’s attention to detail is impeccable. You should see this man set up his IV infusion pumps, talking about meticulous! Before exiting the room each time, he asked if there was anything he could do for our family. One of the moments that truly demonstrated John’s exceptional care was when my grandma became agitated while the doctors attempted to wean her off sedation. John, who had already worked a full shift, stayed an additional hour and a half past his scheduled time to ensure my grandma received pain management. He moved her position multiple times to try to alleviate her discomfort and worked tirelessly to get orders from the on-call physician.
His patience, commitment, and advocacy for my grandma’s well-being were truly remarkable. John’s warmth extended beyond his clinical skills. He treated my family with the utmost respect, even when we were overwhelmed or anxious. He always took the time to answer our questions and was a steady presence during a challenging time.
On one occasion, when my cousin expressed curiosity about the medications being administered, John took the opportunity to teach her about each medication, explaining not just the names but also the reasons for their use. His willingness to share his knowledge showed his dedication to not only caring for patients but also educating those around him.
As the days passed, my grandma became more alert. She even responded to a lighthearted question from me by shaking her head yes in approval of John’s care. The connection he had with my grandma, even though she was not fully conscious, was profound. His consistent, compassionate care, I know, made her feel loved, respected, and valued, even when words could not be exchanged. In a particular memorable moment, I jokingly asked my grandma, “Grandma, do you like John more than you like me?” She smiled through the breathing tube and shook her head very aggressively in approval of John! I laughed in that moment, because honestly, I couldn’t blame her.
John took such great care of her, and it was clear that he had become a favorite of hers. My family and I often joke that John was like our “Superman” and even talked about getting him a cape so he could run the hallways. While it started as a joke, the more we saw his care, the more we realized that his “superpowers” were real. His attention to detail and his constant presence were truly extraordinary.
The day came that my grandma was taken off the ventilator, and a week later, she passed away. John never had an actual conversation with my grandma, but during those shifts he worked, she was very loved and cared for. I could live a thousand lifetimes and never be able to repay John for his excellence and compassion. He truly has a purpose at IUH Ball, and every single patient he cares for is truly blessed to have him!
My family and I will forever be grateful for the care he provided to my grandma, and we know that every patient he cares for is incredibly fortunate to have him. John’s impact goes far beyond his medical expertise; he truly has a heart for service, and I can think of no one more deserving of recognition than him.
His impact on my family and me during my grandmother’s 15-day stay in the ICU was nothing short of extraordinary. My grandma was admitted to the ICU following emergency surgery to create a permanent colostomy bag. During the procedure, she aspirated and developed aspiration pneumonia, followed by a diagnosis of sepsis and yeast in her blood. John was the first nurse we encountered, and from that moment, we knew my grandma was in excellent hands.
Throughout her stay, John was an unwavering presence at my grandma’s bedside, providing not only skilled medical care but also emotional support for our family. As my grandma was on a ventilator and heavily sedated, John performed range of motion exercises while speaking to her with kindness and compassion. He made sure to explain each medication he administered and its purpose to not only us as a family but also to my grandma, even though she was unable to respond. This thoughtful communication helped us feel informed and involved and showed an incredible level of respect for my grandma as a person.
John’s attention to detail is impeccable. You should see this man set up his IV infusion pumps, talking about meticulous! Before exiting the room each time, he asked if there was anything he could do for our family. One of the moments that truly demonstrated John’s exceptional care was when my grandma became agitated while the doctors attempted to wean her off sedation. John, who had already worked a full shift, stayed an additional hour and a half past his scheduled time to ensure my grandma received pain management. He moved her position multiple times to try to alleviate her discomfort and worked tirelessly to get orders from the on-call physician.
His patience, commitment, and advocacy for my grandma’s well-being were truly remarkable. John’s warmth extended beyond his clinical skills. He treated my family with the utmost respect, even when we were overwhelmed or anxious. He always took the time to answer our questions and was a steady presence during a challenging time.
On one occasion, when my cousin expressed curiosity about the medications being administered, John took the opportunity to teach her about each medication, explaining not just the names but also the reasons for their use. His willingness to share his knowledge showed his dedication to not only caring for patients but also educating those around him.
As the days passed, my grandma became more alert. She even responded to a lighthearted question from me by shaking her head yes in approval of John’s care. The connection he had with my grandma, even though she was not fully conscious, was profound. His consistent, compassionate care, I know, made her feel loved, respected, and valued, even when words could not be exchanged. In a particular memorable moment, I jokingly asked my grandma, “Grandma, do you like John more than you like me?” She smiled through the breathing tube and shook her head very aggressively in approval of John! I laughed in that moment, because honestly, I couldn’t blame her.
John took such great care of her, and it was clear that he had become a favorite of hers. My family and I often joke that John was like our “Superman” and even talked about getting him a cape so he could run the hallways. While it started as a joke, the more we saw his care, the more we realized that his “superpowers” were real. His attention to detail and his constant presence were truly extraordinary.
The day came that my grandma was taken off the ventilator, and a week later, she passed away. John never had an actual conversation with my grandma, but during those shifts he worked, she was very loved and cared for. I could live a thousand lifetimes and never be able to repay John for his excellence and compassion. He truly has a purpose at IUH Ball, and every single patient he cares for is truly blessed to have him!
My family and I will forever be grateful for the care he provided to my grandma, and we know that every patient he cares for is incredibly fortunate to have him. John’s impact goes far beyond his medical expertise; he truly has a heart for service, and I can think of no one more deserving of recognition than him.