December 2025
Matthew
Evans
,
BSN, RN
Intensive Care Unit
Geisinger Wyoming Valley Medical Center
Wilkes-Barre
,
PA
United States
He took a patient who had received a grave prognosis on a wheelchair “trip” around the hospital, up to the helipad, to grab a snack from the vending machine, and to enjoy a change of scenery.
I wanted to take a moment to recognize one of our newly off-orientation registered nurses, Matt Evans, who has truly excelled in delivering exceptional patient experiences. Since transitioning off orientation, Matt consistently receives compliments from patients and families during every rounding encounter.
He goes above and beyond in connecting with patients on a personal level. The AVP of Nursing recently observed Matt sitting in a patient’s room, pulling up a chair, holding the patient’s hand, and speaking with them eye to eye. This small but meaningful gesture truly demonstrates the empathy and professionalism that define our nursing values.
Matt has also gone out of his way to create memorable experiences for patients facing difficult circumstances. Recently, with the physician’s approval, he took a patient who had received a grave prognosis on a wheelchair “trip” around the hospital, up to the helipad, to grab a snack from the vending machine, and to enjoy a change of scenery. What made this even more special was that it was his coworkers who excitedly shared the story with the manager afterward, saying things like, “You should’ve seen the smile on his face—he was grinning ear to ear.” That patient was later discharged home, and his gratitude for the experience was profound.
In another instance, Matt went out of his way to support a patient who had spent over 40 days in the ICU. Before the patient’s transfer to CSU and eventual discharge home, Matt personally bought him lunch during his last couple of days in ICU and placed a Sunshine Club request for an Alabama T-shirt, which was delivered to the patient in CSU as a gift. This story was shared at a Friday safety huddle by patient experience, and the ICU received positive feedback from the patient on the Press Ganey Survey, which stated: “The nursing staff in the ICU/CCU unit at Geisinger Wyoming Valley/Pearsall Heart Hospital are outstanding. Words alone are not enough to express my thanks and gratitude to them”.
What truly stands out about Matt is his genuine enthusiasm for nursing. He looks forward to each and every shift and comes to work excited to make a difference. His positive energy is contagious, uplifting both his patients and teammates.
He goes above and beyond in connecting with patients on a personal level. The AVP of Nursing recently observed Matt sitting in a patient’s room, pulling up a chair, holding the patient’s hand, and speaking with them eye to eye. This small but meaningful gesture truly demonstrates the empathy and professionalism that define our nursing values.
Matt has also gone out of his way to create memorable experiences for patients facing difficult circumstances. Recently, with the physician’s approval, he took a patient who had received a grave prognosis on a wheelchair “trip” around the hospital, up to the helipad, to grab a snack from the vending machine, and to enjoy a change of scenery. What made this even more special was that it was his coworkers who excitedly shared the story with the manager afterward, saying things like, “You should’ve seen the smile on his face—he was grinning ear to ear.” That patient was later discharged home, and his gratitude for the experience was profound.
In another instance, Matt went out of his way to support a patient who had spent over 40 days in the ICU. Before the patient’s transfer to CSU and eventual discharge home, Matt personally bought him lunch during his last couple of days in ICU and placed a Sunshine Club request for an Alabama T-shirt, which was delivered to the patient in CSU as a gift. This story was shared at a Friday safety huddle by patient experience, and the ICU received positive feedback from the patient on the Press Ganey Survey, which stated: “The nursing staff in the ICU/CCU unit at Geisinger Wyoming Valley/Pearsall Heart Hospital are outstanding. Words alone are not enough to express my thanks and gratitude to them”.
What truly stands out about Matt is his genuine enthusiasm for nursing. He looks forward to each and every shift and comes to work excited to make a difference. His positive energy is contagious, uplifting both his patients and teammates.