After an initial bad experience in the ER, I was transferred to 5 East. While here, I met my evening nurse, Maria. Upon arrival, I was in a lot of discomfort from the start. Maria was very professional, kind, compassionate, and thorough. After my surgery, she was very attentive to my needs, offering many suggestions for making my recovery faster and less painful. Southwest Hospital should be proud and fortunate to have such an employee. I definitely feel she is very deserving of an award and recognition for her hard work. It was a pleasure having her as my nurse.