Mr. Salazar has really made a difference to my time as a patient receiving haemodialysis. There are two main areas in which he has made a big impact, and these are: his friendly approach to the patients and the level of professionalism he displays in doing his job.

Mr. Salazar is always so cheerful and caring when delivering care and even on my bad days when I'm feeling low, he always manages to put a smile on my face. Whenever I see him, he is cheerful and always takes time to communicate with me and the other patients. He does have a holistic approach to the care he delivers; he understands that receiving dialysis is not easy and shows concern for our mental and emotional welfare as well as the physical. Even though there are times the unit can be very busy, I have seen Troy assisting other staff when they needed help, and he is always working hard, making sure that the necessary equipment needed on the unit is available and items are in good condition.

Whenever I have needed any advice about my treatment or have required assistance when Troy was on shift, he has always taken the time to talk with me, assist me, and explain what I needed to know. He really has made a difference to my time at the unit, he makes it a friendly, informative, and safe place, and I know I can always turn to him and get friendly and professional advice. Troy makes receiving quite a difficult treatment so much more pleasant, and I think this should be recognised, therefore I am making this nomination. 

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Troy is a valuable member of this unit. He’s professional, caring, great at communicating, compassionate, and skilled. He helps us out straight away, makes conversation, always checking up on our mental wellbeing and physical health to see if we’re okay. He always goes the extra mile to make you feel comfortable, always making us laugh and smile. Troy is always meticulous in his work and approach to the treatment.

Especially when I am difficult to needle, he reassures me it’ll be okay and is always so gentle when inserting the needle, he’s never given up on me, even though sometimes it can take up to about a good 20 minutes+ to needle just one site. It can get frustrating when needling takes this long but he still smiles at me and continues to reassure me things will go smoothly. He’s always consistent with ensuring things go to plan and is always prepared to do things efficiently, so there’s no delay. He’s a genuine person with a lot of patience and understanding, it feels welcoming every time he’s at the unit. He never rushes you and always answers any questions we have, always checks up on information or results for us. He’s always great, even when dealing with difficult situations. Nurses are often the heart of healthcare, and they create the biggest impact on the environment you’re around.

I would say Troy is that special nurse who makes the entire experience of being in dialysis bearable, especially when you’re having a hard time. I know if he’s here, we’re going to be having a good time in dialysis, stress-free and calm. He’s devoted to being an amazing nurse, he puts the extra care and effort always for everyone. He deserves the award for being so generous and kind-hearted. He’s an exceptional nurse.