Kelly McDaniel, BSN, RN

Kelly demonstrated such compassionate nursing care for a patient who had been on DH72 for over a month. The patient had undergone an elective mitral valve repair and ultimately had many complications postoperatively. The patient had undergone ECMO and multiple amputations due to necrotic limbs, and he was a very heavy case for a lot of the staff. Kelly ultimately had the patient on his last day of life on this Earth. He was a very complicated case with family who were very unwilling to listen to the physician’s advice. Kelly demonstrated exemplary care by showing the patient and family utter respect and making necessary calls to family, hospice, and one legacy teams. She spent hours on the phone and at bedside fighting for the patient’s dignity and rights and ultimately was able to end his suffering by walking the family through what comfort care would look like for him. She advocated vehemently for the patient and truly was the toughest and most compassionate nurse that day. It was an honor to be her colleague on that shift. I am so proud of how she handled herself and defended the patient’s autonomy and wishes by allowing him the grace to die with dignity. She truly is an amazing patient advocate and brought so much peace to him and his family.